K-Pax and the Challenge of Refugee Housing Autonomy

K-Pax and the Challenge of Housing Autonomy for Refugees
K-Pax is a Social Cooperative founded in 2008, with offices in Breno and Brescia (Lombardia Region, Italy). It is committed to the reception of refugees and asylum seekers, as well as to the cultural promotion of migration-related topics.
Through the Erasmus+ Project "Action KA210” and in collaboration with other European organizations, K-Pax aims to develop skills to enhance the effectiveness of its Projects, sponsored by the Reception and Integration System (in Italian: Sistema di Accoglienza ed Integrazione-SAI), guiding beneficiaries towards housing autonomy.

Demographic and Socioeconomic Context:
As of January 2023, the province of Brescia counts 150,383 residents from foreign origins (12.0% of the population). The city of Brescia alone is home to 36,613 of them.
Despite the prevalence of poverty among foreigners in Italy (40% compared to 20% among Italians), only 10.7% of people from foreign origins have access to the Citizenship Income, due to restrictive criteria. This population is subject to lower wages (an average of €16,640 per year), barriers to accessing credit, and fewer employment opportunities. (Sources: ISTAT report “Stranieri e naturalizzati nel mercato del lavoro italiano”, 2023 Report on the Economics of Immigration by the Leone Moressa Foundation, 2023 Immigration Statistical Dossier edited by Idos Center for Studies and Research).

Specific Housing Problems:
The public housing system in the province of Brescia includes 2,130 units, 1,783 of which are located in the city of Brescia. These resources are insufficient to meet the demand for affordable housing solutions. On the other hand, the private market relegates foreigners to the outskirts of cities, in approximately 55 square meter homes, exacerbating ghettoization. Access to mortgages is also limited due to racist prejudices and weak financial conditions.

Impact on Services and Reception Projects:
These challenges have led to prolonged stays in SAI Projects, an increase in homelessness, the overload of social services, and the rise of precarious rental contracts or informal sublets of housing units.

K-Pax's Innovative Solution:
To address these challenges, K-Pax has implemented a Social Housing Project, offering moderate rents (€200 per month) in shared accommodations in Brescia. However, this Project requires additional resources and expertise to scale up and thrive. The Cooperative is also a partner in the "Mè Kà" Project, which provides fundings to financially support tenants and landlords with the goal of making the private rental market more accessible to disadvantaged people.

Objective of the Erasmus+ Project:
With the Erasmus+ project "Action KA210," K-Pax aims to acquire new methodologies and best practices at the European level to strengthen its capacity to support refugees' housing autonomy. The goal is to provide a replicable and sustainable model of housing integration, reducing dependence on emergency services and promoting social inclusion.