Milano 2035 - Youth Housing Coalition was founded to increase the Milanese metropolitan area’s capacity for housing solutions tailored to the needs of young people, increasing the number of 18-35 year-olds who can move to Milan or who, already resident there, can live independently of their families. It is a network comprising 30 public and private entities: associations, foundations, cooperatives, businesses, and local institutions. Sara Travaglini from DAR=CASA explains how the work is taking shape in practice.

The area of the former freight terminal Scalo Greco-Breda, located in the north-east of Milan, is soon to be transformed into the first Carbon Neutral Social Housing project in Italy, L’Innesto. The project, developed by REDO SGR and Fondazione Housing Sociale, together with a broad multi-stakeholder partnership, is among the winners of the Reinventing Cities international competition promoted by C40 Cities. The Fondazione Housing Sociale team tells the story.

“But if we are to shape our Union in their mould, young people must be able to shape Europe's future. Our Union needs a soul and a vision they can connect to. Or as Jacques Delors asked: How can we ever build Europe if young people do not see it as a collective project and a vision of their own future?” This is how European Commission’s President, Ursula von der Leyen officially announced that 2022 will be the European Year of Youth during her annual most important speech about the State of the EU. Already a quarter of the way into this special year, we see the EU’s ambition to make young peoples’ lives greener, more inclusive, and more connected. However, where is housing in this picture?