Promising Practice

Survey on Roma, Sinti and Caminanti Housing Transition Projects

The survey on housing transition projects is the first step of a wider research project that involves the National Statistical Institute (Istat), the national equality body (UNAR) and Roma representatives of the National Roma Associations Platform. The aim is to improve statistical knowledge on the Roma population in Italy by developing a system of indicators to monitor inclusion policies, with a special focus on Roma housing transitions.
Country
Italy
Type
Institutional and structural guidelines
Foster inter-institutional cooperation
Category
Racial or ethnic origin

 


In this page:


Why was the practice needed?

The survey on housing transition projects is the first step of a wider research project that involves Istat, UNAR and Roma representatives of the National Roma Associations Platform. The aim is to improve statistical knowledge on the Roma population in Italy by developing a system of indicators to monitor inclusion policies, with a special focus on Roma housing transition projects aimed at overcoming segregation into Roma settlements, as in Italy official statistics are not broken down by ethnic origin.

How was it implemented?

The survey involved all Italian municipalities with 15,000 inhabitants and over, with the aim of collecting information on housing transition projects targeting Roma, Sinti and Caminanti populations. A questionnaire was sent to 745 municipalities. The objective of this first survey was to assess all housing inclusion projects carried out by municipalities.

Data collection started in September 2019 and ended in January 2020, using computer-assisted web interviewing. A short version of the questionnaire was also sent to regions and associations belonging to the National Roma Associations Platform (79 associations) established at UNAR.

The second step, scheduled in 2022, will consist in interviewing Roma, Sinti and Caminanti who left the settlements in 2012–2020 and live in adequate housing and those who did not leave them.

At present, questionnaires have been finalised and the survey has been designed.

Data on households that participated in housing transition projects were updated in 2021 by municipalities, as was information on settlements.

Interviews with households living in adequate housing will be based on the lists provided by municipalities. Interviews in the formal settlements will be conducted after applying the random-walk technique.

The third step, scheduled in 2022, aims to compare the degree of inclusion of Roma people who have left settlements and are living in adequate housing with those who are still living in settlements.

Outputs

  • Results of the research project’s first step (mapping all housing inclusion projects carried out by municipalities with 15,000 inhabitants and over), published on the Istat website in March 2021.
  • Data on inclusion of households that participated in transition projects.
  • Data on social hardship of households living in formal settlements.

Key success factors

  • Collaboration with UNAR.
  • Involving the national Roma, Sinti and Caminanti Forum, set up by UNAR, in the design of the questionnaires (key questions), through its delegates.
  • Engaging the Statistical Working Group on Roma Population. The entire survey project and the result of the housing inclusion projects mapping exercise were shared within the working group.

Technical information

  • Data sources covered: Household or individual surveys
  • Areas of life covered: Employment; Education; Health; Housing and living conditions; Access to goods and service
  • Target audience: Target actors: national equality body (UNAR), public administrations, civil society organisations, media, general population. Target group: Roma, Sinti and Caminanti ethnic minorities.
  • Duration: 3 years or more
  • Geographical scope: National
  • Leading institution:National Statistical Institute (Istituto nazionale di statistica)
  • Other organisations involved/consulted: National Roma Associations Platform and UNAR
  • Financial & human resources: Budget: €200,000; Source of the budget: UNAR, Programma Operativo Nazionale Ricerca e Innovazione (PON); Staff: Data not provided

Contacts

National Statistical Institute (Istituto nazionale di statistica)

nur@istat.it

valedema@istat.it

ioannoni@istat.it