Reassess the conditions of the families involved in the 14 evictions announced from social housing units before proceeding with the repossessions. That is the request from the CDLS (Confederazione Democratica dei Lavoratori Sammarinesi), which is calling for urgent talks with the institutions and has brought to light several cases in which, according to the union, exceeding income limits does not tell the whole story about families’ real chances of finding another home.
“Behind the 14 evictions announced in San Marino’s social housing there are people, families and situations of vulnerability that cannot be reduced to an income threshold,” the statement reads.
Among the cases reported is that of a couple in which both spouses live with disabilities. The wife receives a disability pension, while the husband, who is followed by social services, is enrolled in a therapeutic rehabilitation programme that provides compensation of just a few hundred euros. Several years ago the family exceeded the thresholds for remaining in public housing.
“In the meantime, however, their economic and family circumstances have changed, placing the couple back in serious difficulty. Despite this, requests for them to vacate the property keep arriving,” the CDLS reports.
Another case concerns an 80-year-old woman, now living alone, who has resided in public housing for decades. Her pension exceeds the limits set by regulations, but the union is asking that her age and the practical difficulties of relocating also be taken into account: “Today she finds herself alone, after going through painful family events, and must face the prospect of leaving a home that has long been her main point of reference.”
The statement also points to the situation of working women left alone after losing their partners, who are grappling with household expenses and their children’s precarious employment. “Different circumstances, united by the gap between formally available income and the resources actually needed to live.”
For the Confederazione Democratica, the key issue is assessing the current situation of the households involved, taking into account the changes that have occurred over time. “These stories show that vulnerability is not a fixed condition and cannot be measured by income alone. Family circumstances change, health problems can arise, income can fall or care needs can increase.”
Making the search for alternatives even harder are the costs of the private rental market. According to the union, some families have received rent requests of up to a thousand euros a month, on top of which come deposits, possible agency fees and advance payments on rent.
The availability of public housing remains limited. San Marino’s social housing stock, the CDLS reports, consists of around 70 units, mostly around 50 square metres in size and not always suitable for larger families. The union acknowledges the need to ensure fair management and turnover of allocations, while also protecting those still waiting for a home.
“The needs of those on the waiting list should not be pitted against those of families at risk of eviction: both reflect a real housing need. When available housing is insufficient and the private market offers no economically sustainable alternatives, the risk is simply that housing hardship is shifted from one family to another, without ever being resolved.”
The CDLS is therefore calling for, before any eviction order is carried out, a thorough review of the economic, family and social circumstances involved, with the involvement of the relevant social services. “In cases of proven vulnerability, concrete solutions must be found, including the possibility of postponing the handover within the limits allowed by law, so that no family is left without a genuinely accessible housing alternative.”
On the structural front, the CDLS is calling for an update to the criteria governing social housing and for an increase in the public housing supply through planning and investment. “But these measures take time, while the people affected by eviction orders need answers today.”
Hence the call for an urgent meeting with the institutions, to examine individual cases and identify sustainable support pathways. “Respecting the rules of social housing is necessary. Behind every measure there are people, with stories and life circumstances that deserve attention. It is the institutions’ responsibility to turn this awareness into concrete solutions, before the loss of a home turns into a new form of social exclusion.”
