APCOM

Four years after the beginning of the testing, the Province of Milano launches the project 'Prendi in casa uno studente' (House a student) another time: the provincial committee's total investment to support the initiative between 2008 and 2010 exceeds 300,000 Euro. The plan, which is also promoted by the association MeglioMilano, allows university students who live away from home to rent rooms at cheap prices in elderly people's homes.

In return, pensioners benefit from incentives to make their apartments better. Since 2004 MeglioMilano has enabled more than 160 cohabitations: 652 pensioners and 1678 students have asked to take part in the project. According to Milano's Province, the couples of 'Prendi in casa uno studente' are prevailingly formed by women: the average host is 75 years old and receives an average refund expense of 236 Euro in order to face expenses.

63% of the guests are girls. 35% of them study at the Politecnico, 28% at the Università Statale and 12% at the Cattolica. Lombardia is the most represented region, with 50 students involved in the project, followed by Piemonte, Puglia and Sicilia. Because of the idea's success, Milano's Province and MeglioMilano are thinking of extending it to researchers, doctoral candidates and nurses.