Housing: legislation on housing support for separated parents is now in place

A contribution towards half the rent, up to 6,000 euros a year, for responsible separated parents (who are up to date with maintenance payments) and whose annual income is within 35,000 euros: the legislation to establish a housing support fund for separated or divorced parents with dependent children who do not have custody of the family home is now ready. The Ministry of Infrastructure has announced that it has sent a note to the Ministry of the Economy to release the funds and get the scheme up and running as soon as possible; it is estimated that the scheme will initially benefit at least 5,000 people in the coming months.

The measure – according to a statement – strongly supported by the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Matteo Salvini, provides for 60 million over three years to support separated or divorced parents by covering 50 per cent of their housing costs, up to a maximum of 6,000 euros per year. Eligible beneficiaries will include parents who have at least one dependent child, are up to date with maintenance payments and have an annual income of up to 35,000 euros (IRPEF, rather than ISEE, will be used as the criterion).

All too often, in fact, when the former home is awarded to the other parent, the parent left without a home faces a series of financial difficulties which the legislation aims to alleviate, not least in the interests of the children involved, the MIT notes in a statement. To qualify for the support, applicants will naturally need a valid tenancy agreement and must not own any other property within a 50-km radius of their former home. The grant cannot be combined with other rent subsidies, and applications can be submitted online. Once the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) has released the allocated funds, priority will be given to regions with the highest number of separated or divorced parents and the most acute housing crisis.