‘Living in tomorrow’. This is the first title Italian manifesto on cohousingcreated and promoted by 50&Più, presented in Rome on the morning of Wednesday 12 November, at Palazzo Wedekind. To open a work Carlo SangalliNational President of 50&Più, who commented: “Our document contains concrete guidelines and proposals aimed at institutions and operators to promote a culture of collaborative living”. At the event – hosted by Davide Maria Desario, Director of Adnkronos – Also Marco TrabucchiPresident of the Leonardo Foundation, Pierluigi AscaniPresident of the Format Research Institute, In The Repentant, President of the Social Policy Commission of the Municipality of Rome, Peter BeanMember of the Council delegated for youth policy of the City of Padua, Tommaso ScalziHead of Public Affairs Specht Italia. He finished his job Lorenzo FrancesconiSecretary General of 50&Più, who announced: “Our work has just begun, we will propose a permanent table with stakeholders to launch new projects and monitor actions to encourage active aging useful to combat loneliness and encourage participation”.
Nine points are contained in the ‘Living in Tomorrow’ program document which was presented to the public by Prof. Trabucchi, who underlined: “Participatory planning is a fundamental aspect of our Manifesto”. Among these points, beyond participatory planning, are institutional awareness, participatory planning, proximity to essential services, universal accessibility. And again, integrated safety, flexible design, common spaces to encourage active aging, encourage experimentation, and actively encourage intergenerational exchange.
“We firmly believe that cohousing is a key tool for reducing pressure on social and health services – emphasizes Sangalli – keeping older people active, independent and happy in their communities.” There are also many testimonies from the world of politics and the private sector. From Padua, Pietro Bean, Delegated Councilor for Municipal Youth Policy, outlined the cohousing housing model, underlining: “The housing emergency in Padua has been addressed by promoting intergenerational cohabitation between independent seniors and young students”. And again, for the public administration, Nella Converti, President of the Social Policy Commission of the Municipality of Rome, spoke and – anticipating the resolution being discussed in the Giulio Cesare Chamber on ‘condo guards’ – said: “We have made an important political choice, to build shared housing in buildings stolen from the mafia and we have allocated one of the nine buildings for the homeless”. But for the private aspect, Tommaso Scalzi, Head of Public Affairs of Specht Group Italy, intervenes: “Senior living is an alternative. It is a condominium with private apartments, but with shared spaces, this counteracts loneliness and cognitive decline”.
