The report “Protected Spaces, Safe Places” is now online, detailing a year of frontline activities and data dedicated to protecting the rights and dignity of vulnerable individuals in Rome. In 2024, INTERSOS in Rome continued to offer support to people experiencing social marginalisation through services provided at two dedicated centers in Torre Spaccata and Via Ottavia.
2024 was a busy year for INTERSOS in Rome, marked by continuous commitment and new initiatives. The organisation, active in Rome since 2011 with the opening of the A28 reception center—a crucial point of reference for Unaccompanied Foreign Minors (UFM) in transit through Italy—has continued to evolve its services to meet emerging needs. Since 2017, the project transformed into the INTERSOS24 Center in Torre Spaccata, a multifunctional hub offering day and night reception for minors and women in vulnerable situations. This includes those who have exited institutional pathways or are exposed to gender-based violence, labor exploitation, or sexual exploitation.
Over the years, the INTERSOS24 center has expanded, integrating psychosocial activities for vulnerable populations and a community clinic. Since 2018, this clinic has provided primary care, socio-health guidance, and mental health support, assisting 202 people in 2024 with 352 services rendered. Among the key services available at the center is the Safe Space, a secure environment dedicated to women and LGBTQIA+ individuals. Here, they can access a range of services, information, and learning and socialisation opportunities. During the year, 16 workshops were offered, with 246 participants. Additionally, 480 people were supported through 5 help desks that bridge the gap between local institutional services and the population, who often struggle to access these services due to linguistic, cultural, and bureaucratic barriers, as well as a lack of cultural and gender sensitivity from operators.
A fundamental role is also played by the mobile outreach team, active in Rome since 2016 in partnership with UNICEF. This team monitors areas of high interest for vulnerable migrant populations, providing guidance on socio-health services. In 2024, the team conducted 19 informative sessions, reaching 167 people in Extraordinary Reception Centers (CAS), and held 5 training cycles for 39 staff members. These activities have strengthened awareness of Gender-Based Violence and improved individuals’ knowledge of the healthcare system and the job market. They also trained CAS staff on managing situations of violence and protection from exploitation.
The necessity of such interventions is evident in a city like Rome, which has an estimated 24,000 homeless individuals and an unquantifiable number of people without regular residency permits.
Since 2019, INTERSOS’s commitment has extended to the Ottavia district with the establishment of the Ottavia Center. This hub is dedicated to providing psychosocial support, guidance, and training to the migrant population. In 2024, the Ottavia Center launched the “A Piccoli Passi” (Small Steps) project, funded by Con i Bambini. This initiative aims to create “educating communities” through an Educational Community Pact, involving schools and local stakeholders. Results include 5 open assemblies with partner schools, 35 homework assistance sessions for 47 minors, and 70 mediations activated to support 40 minors and families.
Furthermore, in 2024, the Ottavia Center launched the “Play Your Mind” project, funded by the King Baudouin Foundation, focusing on promoting mental health in adolescence. This project involved adolescents and adult reference figures through 16 sessions for adults (83 participants) and 7 sessions for adolescents (79 participants), in addition to a music workshop and a music video with 39 adolescents.
The report “Protected Spaces, Safe Places” highlights the scope of this commitment. In 2024, INTERSOS24 supported 523 women through its activities. The Children’s Space welcomed 76 children. The “SpazioPsi,” dedicated to psychological support for survivors of violence, torture, and inhuman treatment, supported 39 individuals through 462 clinical or rehabilitative sessions during the year. Additionally, Casa INTERSOS, a reception center for families fleeing Ukraine with severe vulnerabilities, hosted 5 families, totaling 19 people.
These figures underscore INTERSOS’s crucial role in Rome in providing integrated assistance that is sensitive to the needs of the most vulnerable people. This is always done in close collaboration with the healthcare system and relevant local authorities. The objective is to support and complement existing services, not replace them, and to serve as an observatory to contribute to the improvement of local policies and services.