Rome Partners With EIB to Expand Affordable Housing Options

Tobia Zevi, Rome’s Councillor for Assets and Housing Policies, said the partnership marks an important step in strengthening the city’s housing strategy.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Rome's city administration have launched a new partnership aimed at tackling one of the capital's most pressing challenges: affordable housing. The agreement, signed at Rome's Campidoglio by EIB Vice-President Gelsomina Vigliotti and Mayor Roberto Gualtieri, will support the development of the city's Social Residential Housing Plan.

Under the arrangement, the EIB will provide free technical and advisory support to help Rome design an Affordable Housing Fund. The proposed fund is intended to increase the availability of homes with sustainable rents for people who earn too much to qualify for public housing but struggle to afford private rental prices. City officials believe this growing group includes young workers, students, single-income households and many middle-income residents who are finding it increasingly difficult to remain in the city.

Public and Private Investment Expected to Play Key Role

The advisory work will focus on building a financing model capable of attracting both public and private investment. Experts from the EIB will help Rome determine the fund's governance structure, legal framework and financial sustainability, while also examining potential partnerships with institutional investors. EIB Vice-President Gelsomina Vigliotti said access to housing remains Europe's most urgent social issue. She noted that the Bank's role is to provide specialised expertise that allows cities to develop practical housing solutions while attracting investment and delivering long-term benefits for local communities.

Mayor Roberto Gualtieri described affordable housing as a challenge affecting major cities across Europe. He said Rome faces demand for around 30,000 housing units that fall outside the traditional public housing system. According to the mayor, the new financial vehicle will help the city acquire, renovate and build housing that can be offered at rents more people can afford.

Housing Strategy Linked to Sustainability Goals

The project will include detailed financial modelling to examine different funding options, including public contributions, guarantees and rental support mechanisms where needed. The analysis will also consider public accounting rules and European state-aid requirements to ensure the initiative remains financially viable.

Tobia Zevi, Rome's Councillor for Assets and Housing Policies, said the partnership marks an important step in strengthening the city's housing strategy. He pointed out that many residents are caught between stagnant incomes and rapidly rising rents, creating pressure on a large section of the population that receives little support under existing housing programmes.

Rome and the EIB have worked together for more than four decades. Since 1983, the Bank has provided around €1.7 billion in financing for projects including metro expansion, public transport upgrades and waste management improvements. Those investments have helped generate more than €7 billion in total development spending across the city. The new housing initiative also aligns with Rome's environmental ambitions. City leaders intend to combine affordable housing development with energy-efficiency measures and sustainable urban regeneration projects, supporting Rome's participation in the European mission for climate-neutral cities.

The partnership forms part of the EIB's broader housing strategy across Europe, which includes plans to support €6 billion worth of housing projects in 2026. By helping cities prepare projects with strong financial and technical foundations, the Bank aims to accelerate the delivery of housing that remains accessible to a wider range of residents.