Italy’s cost of living crisis has led to 83-year-old Arnaldo, a retired wine consultant, living in an airport for nine months.
He moved to Marconi airport in Bologna last July when he couldn’t afford rent. Arnaldo, originally from Sicily, had been living in Bastiglia, a town near Modena, when his pension was no longer enough to cover his rent.
He slept outside for a while, but soon found shelter at the airport’s check-in area with a single suitcase. Staff brought him food, coffee, a sleeping bag, and a daily newspaper.
Local authorities were unaware of Arnaldo’s situation until they read media reports. The Bologna municipality has now intervened, providing Arnaldo with hotel accommodation while they find him a new home.
Italy’s National Statistics Institute reports that one in 12 people in the country live in absolute poverty, pushing many out onto the streets. Homelessness in Italy increased by 6.8% in 2023.
The country’s cost of living crisis is one of the worst in Western Europe, with 82% of Italians unhappy with government handling and over nine in ten having to cut their usual spending.
