A new Italian Housing Support Fund will cover up to 50% of rent costs for eligible separated or divorced parents, with €60 million allocated for 2026–2028
taly is moving forward with a new housing support measure aimed at separated and divorced parents with dependent children who, after separation, are no longer living in the family home and need to pay for a new home while continuing to meet their financial responsibilities towards their children.
The Housing Support Fund for Separated or Divorced Parents with Dependent Children, introduced through Italy’s 2026 Budget Law, has a budget of €20 million per year, or €60 million over the three-year period 2026–2028.
The measure provides a contribution covering up to 50% of eligible rental costs, with a maximum of €500 per month or €6,000 per year. The Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (MIT) announced in September that the measure has entered its implementation phase and that the call for applications is expected to be published in autumn 2026.
Supporting parents facing the cost of a second home
Separation can create a particularly difficult housing situation for parents who no longer live in the family home but continue to have financial obligations towards their children.
The new Italian fund is designed specifically for parents who, following separation or divorce, are not assigned the family home and need to rent another property. According to the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, the measure is intended to address a form of housing difficulty that can arise when one parent has to establish a new home while continuing to contribute to the costs associated with raising their children.
Who will be eligible?
The measure is aimed at separated or divorced parents with at least one dependent child, provided they meet the conditions established by the implementing legislation. Among the requirements announced by the MIT are:
- having at least one dependent child, up to the age of 21;
- not being the parent assigned the family home owned by the former couple;
- having a valid residential rental contract;
- having an annual income of no more than €35,000;
- being up to date with legally established maintenance payments;
- not owning another property within 50 kilometres of the former family home.
The contribution will not be combined with other rent subsidies. Applications are expected to be submitted online once the official call is published. The implementing rules will determine the final application procedure, documentation and allocation of funds.
€60 million over three years
The Italian Government has allocated €60 million between 2026 and 2028, with €20 million available each year.
The MIT estimates that the measure could initially benefit several thousand parents, with the wider programme expected to reach around 15,000 beneficiaries over the three-year period.
The contribution can be paid for up to twelve months, with the maximum support reaching €500 per month.
A housing measure with a family dimension
The Italian initiative highlights one of the less visible consequences of family separation: the need for one household to become two households, often without a corresponding reduction in the financial responsibilities towards children.
For families with children, this can mean that a parent must find and maintain a new home while continuing to pay maintenance and other costs associated with family life.
From a family-policy perspective, the measure recognises that housing needs can change significantly following separation, and that supporting parents in maintaining adequate housing can also contribute to preserving stable living conditions for children.
The next step: the call for applications
Although the fund has already been established and its financial resources allocated, applications cannot yet be submitted.
The Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport is responsible for the administrative implementation of the measure, in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy and Finance. The next key step is therefore the publication of the official call for applications, which will establish the practical arrangements for applying for the contribution and accessing the available funds.
The Italian case provides another example of how housing policy can intersect with family policy, particularly when family circumstances change and parents need to establish a new home while continuing to meet their responsibilities towards their children.