Second report of Affordable Housing Observatory presented
Housing costs continue to rise, widening the gap between wages and property prices. According to the latest report from the Affordable Housing Observatory (OCA), promoted by the Consorzio Cooperative Lavoratori and LUM in collaboration with the Department of Architecture and Urban Studies (DAStU) of Politecnico di Milano, access to housing is becoming increasingly difficult for middle- and low-income workers.
The research, coordinated by Prof. Massimo Bricocoli, Dr. Marco Peverini, and Dr. Lorenzo Caresana from Politecnico di Milano, highlights the following key findings:
- in Milan, a blue-collar worker can afford to purchase only 19 square meters, a white-collar employee 25 square meters, while a middle manager can reach 48 square meters;
- even in the metropolitan belt, housing access remains critical: an average income is not sufficient to purchase a 50-square-meter home in many well-connected areas;
- renting outside Milan might seem like the only viable option, but transportation costs and commuting time heavily impact income and quality of life.
The report underscores the need for a metropolitan strategy that integrates housing policies and transportation infrastructure to ensure accessible and sustainable solutions.