A single income and children to support, while rent and utility bills absorb an ever-growing share of earnings. USL is drawing attention to the hardships faced by single-parent families and individuals living alone, calling for concrete action on housing costs.
According to the union, rents have practically doubled in recent years. For many low-income parents, even child support payments are not enough to cover the rent.
Ironically, USL points out, that same support payment can end up excluding some families from social tariffs, which offer a 50% discount on utility bills. The eligibility threshold is set at €9,000 of per capita income, but the calculation also includes tax-exempt income, including child maintenance payments.
USL is calling for these criteria to be reviewed, arguing that they leave vulnerable people out in the cold. Rising utility costs, the union adds, continue to erode the purchasing power of wages and threaten people’s ability to live with dignity.
The issue of housing will be at the heart of a meeting on co-housing on Monday, October 19, at 8:30 pm in the Sala Montelupo, organized by the Secretariat for Territory. Architect Luca Rigoni will take part – the same expert USL met during a visit to Fidenza focused on this housing model.
The union welcomes the initiative but urges measures that make affordable housing actually available.
