A census is to be carried out of
vacant properties so they can be made available for students in
response to the current rent crisis in Italy, University
Minister Anna Maria Bernini said on Thursday.
"There is a problem in finding available properties in the
provinces," Bernini told Radio 24.
"I have asked for the cooperation of the state property
administration, municipalities and mayors of metropolitan
areas," continued the minister, adding that the government of
Premier Giorgia Meloni has already made available 400 million
euros for student housing and 500 million euros for scholarships
in this year's budget.
"We are currently guaranteeing for the allocation of an
additional 7,500 beds" on top of the existing 40,000, said
Bernini.
Students across Italy have been camping out in front of their
universities to protest the exorbitant cost of renting
accommodation.
On Tuesday university rectors called for existing state property
to be converted into student accommodation rather than for new
residences to be built as an immediate solution to the problem.
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