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Case dell’Amicizia, the project that supports social inclusion

Together with Plenitude, we respond to the real needs of the most fragile people in Naples, Rome and Turin.

Eni Foundation, together with Eni Plenitude Società Benefit, supports the “Case dell'Amicizia”, in the cities of Naples, Rome and Turin, opened and run by the Community of Sant'Egidio. Found in the neighbourhoods of many Italian cities, these centres are vital for countering the increasing number of situations of fragility, preventing the risk of absolute poverty for individuals and fragile families with minors, and offering support to the elderly who live alone, people with disabilities and the homeless, as well as young people in economic 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.

Project goals

A “holistic” approach is adopted at the “Case dell’Amicizia”, aiming to respond to people’s general and specific needs, including:

  • 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.

The actions

Today, consulting services and social inclusion projects, including housing and job-seeking activities, are the main measures adopted to halt situations of worsening poverty and guarantee effective support and lasting solutions. The “Case dell’Amicizia” offer differentiated services, through access to both public and private services to defend civil, social and healthcare rights. The activities guaranteeing a day-to-day support network include:

  • 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. 

Support to the elderly, housing and job seeking, personal autonomy

The “Viva gli Anziani!” programme offers support by accompanying the elderly and monitoring situations of hardship, guaranteeing continuous, targeted assistance. Furthermore, food and basic necessities are distributed, including home delivery services for the elderly in conditions of poverty.

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.

Results and beneficiaries

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.

Project duration

The activities planned for the project, lasting around one year (December 2024 to November 2025), are supported by an investment of €350,000, while €30,000 were earmarked for the lunch and gifts for Christmas 2024.