Abit@giovani is a project of “distributed” social housing that, in addition to the home itself, offers the possibility to be part of an active and participatory resident community. The homes are spread over all nine zones of Milan and are situated in public housing buildings, which today have been released from public ownership and purchased by the Fondo Immobiliare di Lombardia (FIL, Lombardy Ethical Real-Estate Fund). The project revitalises dwellings that were otherwise unused thus giving young people under the age of 35, whether single or a couple, the possibility to buy a home, giving them support through the rent-to-buy formula and the activation of a social project.
The project is promoted by Regione Lombardia , ALER (Azienda Lombarda Edilizia Residenziale, Lombardy Public HousingAgency) Milan, Fondazione Cariplo, FHS, Don Gino Rigoldi (a distinguished philanthropic entity in Milan) and InvestiRESGR (An Asset Management Company specialised in social housing), as the Fund Manager of the FIL section 1.

The project concerns interventions to renovate the interiors of buildings. At the conclusion of the application procedure, the rental contract is signed on a rent-to-buy basis. The renovation project includes the following main works: the replacement of windows and shutters or blinds, the replacement of internal and front doors, the upgrading of the electrical system, the refurbishment of plumbing and sanitary ware, refurbishment of radiators, regularisation of plaster and paintwork, resurfacing of bathrooms and floors.

Abit@giovani, in addition to the home itself, offers people the opportunity to be part of an active and participatory resident community. The proposal is to consider the home as a starting point to being able to develop shared initiatives and to develop good neighbourly relationships with the other residents within Abit@giovani as well as with other points of reference in the local neighbourhood.
The project includes a series of meetings that are aimed at supporting the setting up of a collaborative community, and which are led by Fondazione Housing Sociale in collaboration with Comunità Nuova Onlus. One of the first objectives achieved by this process was the publication online of a web platform, an important reference tool to facilitate the constitution of the “distributed” housing complex Abit@giovani and to publicise the suggested collaborative projects.

FONDO IMMOBILIARE DI LOMBARDIA
FUND MANAGEMENT AND HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
InvestiRE Sgr
TECHNICAL AND SOCIAL ADVISOR
Fondazione Housing Sociale
PROMOTERS
Regione Lombardia
Aler Milano
Fondazione Cariplo
Fondazione Housing Sociale
PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS
Comune di Milano

DESIGNERS
InStudio– RTP

CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES
Consorzio Sintesi

OTHER ENTITIES INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT
Comunità Nuova