EXPLORING CONTEMPORARY URBAN HOUSING VULNERABILITIES
(A.A. 2021/22)
Housing vulnerability refers to the risk or likelihood that an individual or household may experience housing instability, poor living conditions, or homelessness. It encompasses a range of factors that make people more susceptible to losing their home, living in unsafe or overcrowded conditions, or being unable to access secure, adequate, and affordable housing. Housing vulnerability impacts various dimensions of life , contributing to broader mechanisms of social exclusion. For example, experiencing housing vulnerability can significantly affect one’s ability to access the job market, maintain employment, pursue quality education, and build relationships with wider consequences on the chances of social mobility. Housing vulnerability can either result from or contribute to social exclusion, but it is often overlooked by policies, as it is primarily seen as a consequence of poor labor market integration. In the 2021/22 course students have dissected housing vulnerability by identifying a variety of conditions, situations and factors such as homelessness, evictions, informality, domestic violence, and changes in family structure.
The challenging housing conditions of care workers
As our society grows older, care workers have become a cornerstone of the care economy. In large urban areas especially, they play a crucial role in sustaining family life. Yet little is known about their experiences — they form a silent workforce, often only partially integrated into the formal labor market. Even less is known about their living conditions. Given their working arrangements, what kinds of housing situations do they experience? What happens when their employment ends, especially for those who live in the homes where they work? And how does housing affect their daily lives and their families?
The changing geographies of homelessness in Milan
One of the most extreme forms of housing vulnerability is homelessness. This video presents data on the phenomenon in Milan, including its scale, geographical distribution, the reasons behind this distribution, and the mobility patterns of homeless individuals across the city. It also explores the relationship between homeless shelters and areas where people sleep rough. Despite the challenges of obtaining detailed and accurate data, the video succeeds in offering a comprehensive and insightful overview of homelessness and the services targeting it in Milan.
Unequal and unaffordable services as a source of housing vulnerability
Public housing can play a key role in ensuring the right to housing by providing shelter for a city’s most disadvantaged residents. At the same time, however, it can also contribute to segregation. This video focuses on exclusion from leisure facilities which, although they do not address basic needs like health or education, still significantly impact quality of life. Their absence can lead to marginalization, distress, social exclusion, and isolation. Through two case studies in the city of Milan, this work highlights how the location of public
housing is closely linked to the social integration and well-being of its residents.
The production of evictions
Eviction is one of the most traumatic experiences associated with housing vulnerability. Due to its political sensitivity, it is also a topic on which data is rarely made public. This video explores the causes of eviction and its incidence in Milan, while also tracing the entire process—from the initial warning to the legal procedures, timelines, and possible outcomes. Through interviews with key informants, the video highlights the controversial aspects of eviction procedures, the systemic weaknesses in the institutional response to housing distress, and the daily challenges faced by those involved in the process.