THE NOT-ORDINARY HOUSING: EXPLORING HOUSING TYPOLOGIES AND LIVING CONDITIONS AMONG VULNERABLE GROUPS
(A.A. 2023/24)
What is ordinary housing, and what is not ordinary housing? In the context of fragmenting society, housing experiences are becoming very fragmented as well. The increasing pace of ageing, the changing and pluralising forms of migration, the spread of citizenship stratification, and the pluralisation of the sources of vulnerability are reshaping how certain social groups are housed in cities. Reception centres, elderly residences, emergency housing, and refuge homes are becoming increasingly important in defining what housing and dwelling mean today. How and to what extent are these solutions an answer to housing vulnerability or an unwanted and undesirable consequence? In the 2022/23 course, students aimed at providing a picture of not-ordinary forms of housing linked to vulnerable living conditions in Milan, understanding the structural features leading to the existence and proliferation of these forms of housing, and enlightening the consequences of vulnerable and not-ordinary housing conditions on other dimensions of urban and social life.
Access to services for informal dwellers
Informal housing is not always a temporary solution. The need for shelter can lead people to occupy abandoned properties without a contract, often living under illegal conditions for extended periods. Since many services are provided based on legal residence, how can informal dwellers access these services? This video explores this sensitive and under-examined issue by focusing on the San Siro neighbourhood in Milan, where informal housing occupations are common, involving even families with children. In particular, the challenges that these conditions pose to health, education, and waste collection services are considered.
Housing after detention
What does it mean to find adequate housing after an experience of detention? While some inmates can make it back to their families, others must start their lives anew. And this comes with tremendous obstacles and challenges. Through the analysis of data and documents, the video explores the issue of reintegration into society for former inmates, with a focus on housing in Milan. It highlights the challenges that former inmates encounter in the housing market. And it documents how this key dimension of social integration is often neglected by social policies and the public debate.
Protecting women victims of domestic violence: anti-violence centres and refugee houses.
The journey of reintegration and self-recovery from domestic violence begins with access to safe, dedicated housing. Survivors of domestic violence often face severe housing vulnerability not only because of the economic hardship that frequently follows abuse, but also due to their need for safety and protection. This video explores the scope and characteristics of this issue and examines the measures and responses developed to address it in Milan.
Housing and community on wheels: how circus workers dwell
Working in a circus certainly brings a rather unconventional way of life. Growing up in a circus family or joining one for a sustained period of life while it travels means calling the circus your home. This video explores what “housing” means for circus workers: how it is organised, how it differs from ordinary forms of housing for its nomadic nature, and the unique challenges faced by people in this way of life. From the routines of daily life to the complexities of administration, this video opens a window onto a life that is anything but ordinary, focusing on housing.