Tandem

The project

Tandem is a co-housing and social networking project established in 2016 that targets Italians and international protection holders (IPHs) aged between 18 and 29. The initiative offers an intercultural experience combined with professional training and “active citizenship” activities.  
Tandem develops across two apartments located in the city centre of Parma, loaned by a private and by a religious association respectively. Tenants pay a reduced rent and take part in a 20-hour training course offered by CIAC to make their skills available to the project itself and to other local social inclusion initiatives. 
The co-housing experience has a total duration of 9-12 months and it creates “micro communities” of young people within each housing unit. Tenants are also called to actively participate in the life of the local community through awareness-raising campaigns and voluntary activities. These activities are promoted by CIAC Onlus in collaboration with Solidarity Forum, the local Intercultural Centre, the University of Parma, the Network of Schools for Peace and Movimento dei Focolari. After a training period with CIAC workers, Tandem tenants also organise activities for the local community, including neighbourhood services, activities for the elderly (e.g. home shopping), theatre workshops, entertainment shows for children and Italian courses.
While adopting a multi-stakeholder approach, the good practice focuses also on empowering IPHs in a delicate moment of their integration path, such as the exiting from the reception system, and ensuring the sustainability of their housing inclusion by strengthening their social networking.  Thanks to the results achieved, the project caught the attention of private funds which are now ensuring its sustainability.

The impact of the good practice

Tandem is recognized as one of the best practices currently implemented in Italy regarding the access to housing for IPHs and, thanks to the results achieved, it became a model for the strategy to adopt at the exiting phase of the reception system for IPHs.
The project was able to strengthen the local network of stakeholders involved in the integration of IPHs while showing the whole community the benefits of their integration.
Moreover, the good results achieved were recognized beyond the single project and stimulated the involvement of private entities and citizens, ensuring the sustainability of the action.
While addressing the immediate housing needs of IPHs who are exiting the reception system, Tandem focuses on strengthening their social networking within the local community, which is proved to be the most efficient way of finding additional housing solution at the end of the 9-12 months.