A newly approved city contract in Rome has ignited public outrage after revealing that Italian families will be asked to host migrants in their homes at their own expense—without receiving any government compensation.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The city of Rome has awarded a €400,000 tender to the nonprofit Refugees Welcome Italy to oversee what officials describe as a “voluntary migrant reception” initiative. The program, which begins January 1 and runs through December 31, 2028, calls for Italian families and individuals to accept asylum seekers and migrants into their private homes, providing food and lodging entirely at their own cost. The policy was first reported by Roma Today.
According to city documents, the NGO’s funding will not be used to reimburse host families but rather to recruit and coordinate “families, mentors, and social guardians” willing to participate in the program. The tender also allocates funds for “social inclusion and work autonomy” initiatives aimed solely at the migrants themselves.
Rome’s Department of Social Policies explicitly stated that no financial support or cost reimbursement would be provided to participating households. “Social inclusion expenditures refer exclusively to interventions and measures aimed at service beneficiaries,” the department said. “It follows that reimbursements to families cannot be attributed to this item or to any other type of expenditure and are therefore not eligible.”
The controversial plan has drawn immediate backlash from conservative and right-wing parties, who accuse city officials of imposing unfair costs on citizens while diverting resources to migrant-focused NGOs. Critics labeled the initiative a “waste of public money” and an “insult” to Italians already struggling under rising living expenses.
Supporters within the Democratic Party, however, defended the measure as a humanitarian effort to foster social cohesion and cultural understanding. Party representatives described it as “an experience of great human, social, and cultural value” and insisted participation would remain strictly voluntary.
The program follows a growing trend in several European cities to integrate asylum seekers directly into private residences instead of public shelters or government facilities. But opponents warn that Italy’s version could burden citizens financially and strain social harmony, especially as migrant arrivals through the Mediterranean continue to rise.
The Refugees Welcome Italy contract—granted after the NGO emerged as the sole applicant—will be monitored through the city’s social inclusion department, with an emphasis on tracking migrant outcomes rather than host family welfare.
As Rome prepares to launch the initiative in January, the dispute underscores deep divisions over Italy’s migration policy and the balance between compassion and responsibility. While officials frame the project as an act of solidarity, critics say it risks turning ordinary Italians into uncompensated caretakers for the government’s migration system.
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