Case dell’Amicizia, social inclusion and personal support

From December 2024 to November 2025, Eni Foundation, in partnership Eni Plenitude Società Benefit, supported the “Case dell’Amicizia” (Friendship Houses) in Naples, Rome and Turin, which are run by the Community of Sant'Egidio.Operating in neighbourhoods across many Italian cities, these centres serve as vital hubs to stop people from falling further into hardship and to prevent absolute poverty among vulnerable individuals and families with children, while also assisting the lonely elderly, people with disabilities, the homeless, and young people in financial hardship.The volunteers at the centres listen to people’s need, providing counselling and guidance while building bonds of friendship and trust; help is offered to everyone to identify their problems, needs, priorities and support them in the search for solutions. The first meeting begins with a request for material support, answered by distributing food parcels and basic necessities, followed by practical support in finding a job and a place to live. The close collaboration between local public and private services has developed a range of diversified solutions to promptly respond to individual needs.

Our support for the project lasted approximately one year and focused on assisting those in vulnerable situations. Within the “Case dell’Amicizia”, people receive tailored support through a “holistic” approach designed to meet both specific and broader goals, such as:

• support to the primary needs of individuals and families in conditions of economic and social hardship facing housing problems in the cities of Naples, Rome and Turin
• help to escape from situations of hardship and poverty, by offering multi-dimensional services combining emergency support and job-seeking and housing projects for individuals.

Support services and the roll-out of social, employment and housing resettlement schemes are currently the primary means of preventing poverty from becoming chronic and ensuring effective, long-term solutions. In collaboration with Eni Plenitude Società Benefit, we have backed initiatives that provide a daily safety net within the “Case dell’Amicizia”. These facilities offer a range of services, facilitating access to both public and private resources to uphold civil, social and healthcare rights, such as:

• information, consulting and guidance
• legal support and assistance in accessing public services and documents, including residence permits, citizenship and asylum applications and social and healthcare services
• accommodation and assistance for people who have lost their homes or have no registered address, as well as mail drop services
• guidance in obtaining benefits, drafting curriculum vitae and seeking work
• distribution of food and basic necessities.

In addition to food parcels, the centres distribute hygiene kits, clothes and vouchers in the city neighbourhoods, also helping people who due to their age, language or lack of IT tools and skills, have difficulty in accessing public support services.

The “Viva gli Anziani!” programme offers support by accompanying the elderly and monitoring situations of hardship, guaranteeing continuous, targeted assistance. Another series of activities focus on finding housing and jobs to increase the autonomy of people in difficulty. With their efforts and experience, the volunteers help people to escape situations of need and social isolation. The community of Sant’Egidio works to match skills to job vacancies, with a network of local and national relations, and also supports training, inclusion and employment initiatives for people without a job.

Furthermore, the community runs housing initiatives such as co-housing, including contributions to rent payments and bills for families in situations of hardship.

The volunteers and operators are fundamental figures in the personal autonomy services. Also, through the relations and ties established with people, they provide opportunities, useful tools and guidance to meet the expressed needs and desires. In various cases, especially for particularly isolated people, support services are available to solve social and psychological difficulties.

At Christmas 2024, with Eni Plenitude Società Benefit, we supported the initiative promoted by the Community of Sant’Egidio for the “Case dell’Amicizia”, providing 1,500 lunches and charity-sourced gifts in the cities of Rome, Naples and Turin. Interventions are planned in these cities for 5,100 vulnerable people, 1,300 in Naples, 2,600 in Rome and 1,200 in Turin.

The project activities, spanning roughly one year (December 2024 to November 2025), were funded by an investment of 350,000 euros, while 30,000 euros were allocated to the 2024 Christmas lunch and charitable gifts.