Institutional portal - Municipality of Milan

Granelli: "We will continue with determination to protect the neighborhood and the dignity and safety of these people." Cleaning of sidewalks and invitation to move to equipped and clean locations

Milan, January 25 2022 – Invite those who occupy the passage spaces with mattresses, tents, blankets and scattered waste to use the centers made available by the Administration with the Cold Plan and allow citizens to use the sidewalks. The interventions of the Social Services and the local Police who, in recent weeks, have taken turns in the tunnels under the tracks of the Central Station are moving in this direction.

After the interventions in December, there was no lack of constant presence of the municipal administration in the three tunnels of Sammartini, Mortirolo and Lumiere. With continuous passages, like the one this morning by the local police (during which the pavements were cleared of rubbish and broken glass), we remind the homeless people camped out in the cold, among the dirt and cars parked or running on the roadway, that permanence is not permitted and that they could be removed in compliance with their dignity and safety and to allow the use of the areas by all citizens.

"Unfortunately, many homeless people continue to remain in the tunnels - declares Marco Granelli, Councilor for Security - and in some cases the risk is not only the cold but also arguments, thefts, fights, alcohol and drug abuse. This morning the local police officers had to break up a dispute between two people and one of the two contenders had to resort to ambulance treatment. It must be clear to everyone that we will continue to intervene, with the right determination, so that people have a dignified welcome and safe, and at the same time the sidewalks are freed and the citizens who live in the neighborhood can go home, to school, to the shops and to work. However, no one can think that the solution is to continue living in the cold, in critical hygienic conditions. insecurity and for this reason we want to act".

During the transfers of the municipal social services, the operators propose alternative solutions and routes, inviting people to use the beds made available by the Municipality and the Third Sector bodies in the city with the Cold Plan, in particular in the mezzanine of the Central Station - very close to the tunnel. All decent, indoor and clean solutions. The mobile units of the Milanese volunteers have provided constant assistance in recent weeks, giving information on services and inviting the homeless to contact the Sammartini Centre, in via Sammartini 120, a single access point for all the city's structures.