Housing Sociale
Since 1999, Fondazione Cariplo has tackled the issue of social housing with determination, launching several calls for proposals aimed at increasing the offering, through non-profit providers, of housing and support services for people with a wide range of vulnerabilities. Since 2011, these have merged into a single call for proposals, “Social housing for the vulnerable”, which stimulates local areas to increase their ability to respond to certain housing needs (relating to socio-economic circumstances, disability and ageing). The aim is to enhance the offering and strengthen people’s independence, by maximising the affordability of housing solutions. To date (December 2025), the Foundation has supported 424 projects by approving grants of over €80 million, providing approximately 7,000 beds for vulnerable people.
Plus, since 2004, Fondazione Cariplo has decided to systematically address the issue of private social housing; it has done so with the participation and support of the Lombardy Region and ANCI Lombardy by establishing a purpose-based foundation. The Social Housing Foundation currently actively promotes the social housing model in Italy, as an advisor to funds that invest in the sector; it provides assistance in the design of interventions, offering advice in urban and architectural planning, in the design of services and housing welfare and in community development.
SHF’s commitment led in 2006 to the creation of the first Italian fund focusing on social housing – the Fondo Abitare Sociale 1 – which served as the basis for the subsequent establishment of the Fondo Nazionale Investimenti per l’Abitare, managed by the Integrated System of Social Housing Funds (SIF), which carries out social housing projects throughout Italy. The SIF is now one of the largest impact investment programmes worldwide.
The experience of social housing has experienced its greatest level of development in the Lombardy Region. In 2019, REDO Sgr S.p.A.– Benefit Company took over management of the Fondo Abitare Sociale 1 (now known as the Fondo Immobiliare di Lombardia – FIL). REDO also focuses its attention and expertise on student housing and urban regeneration.