“Housing The Homeless”: 6 Apartments Renovated And Assigned To People In Need In Genoa
Thanks to the project promoted by the Costa
Crociere Foundation and the Community of Sant’Egidio, 12 people, including a
family with children, have a home to live in and from which to begin the
process of social reintegration.
Genoa,
12 May 2015
– Costa Crociere Foundation, the foundation established by Costa Crociere, and
the Community of Sant’Egidio presented the social assistance project “Housing
the Homeless”.
Through this
project, launched in the fall of 2014 and supported by funds from the
foundation, 6 apartments in Genoa’s historic centre were renovated and assigned
by the Community of Sant’Egidio to 12 people in need or homeless, including a
family with children.
“Through
the project “Housing the Homeless”, the Costa Crociere Foundation aims at
providing a concrete answer to assist the most vulnerable in our city, those
living on the street. And this situation has worsened in recent years due to
the continuing economic crisis. Security and permanency guaranteed by a home
are the prerequisites for improving the life of these people and for helping
them regain social and economic independence”, declared Paola
Girdinio of the Costa Crociere Foundation.
"Everyday
Sant'Egidio helps women and old people living on the streets, in a particularly
difficult situation. Costa Cruises Foundation allows us to take care of them in
a more effective way and to expand our operations in favour of the weaker
sections of the population" - said Andrea Chiappori, Head of the
Community of Sant'Egidio for Liguria.
The 6
apartments are owned by ASP Emanuele Brignole institution, which provided them
under a concession for the social housing project promoted by the Costa
Crociere Foundation. The renovation included cleaning, installation of heating
systems, maintenance of kitchen and bathroom functions, as well as acquisition
of mattresses, pillows, blankets, decorations and other essential items.
Housing
assignment is managed by the Community of Sant’Egidio. Starting from a home to
live in, the goal is to develop individual paths toward social and human
reintegration to help people and families in need reacquire their independence.
The first
people moved into the homes at the end of January. Currently, 3 women, 5 men
and a family of four (2 parents and 2 children of 5 and 10 years old
respectively) are living in the apartments. The Community of Sant’Egidio, with
the help of the Costa Crociere Foundation, offers them psychological and social
support through a tutor who interacts with them every day, managing the daily
activities of the project.
“Housing the
Homeless” is one of the projects promoted by the Costa Crociere Foundation.
With the support of Costa Crociere and its partners, the Costa Crociere
Foundation aims to tackle tough social and environmental problems in Italian
communities in order to give people a solid basis on which to build a better future.
(http://www.costa-crociere-foundation.com/).
