The evicted of Scampia denounce: "No one rents us a house"

Naples. With anger and fear, the inhabitants of the Red Sail and the Yellow Sail of Scampia feel “like plague victims” e “abandoned”.

The fear of not having a place to sleep, especially with children, is palpable. “Nobody wants to rent us a house”, is the common complaint among those who have been the recipients of the mayor's eviction order, issued for security reasons.

The buildings in question, about fifty of them, are considered dangerous, a risk that can no longer be taken after the tragic collapse of the Vela Celeste walkways last July, which caused the death of three people and seriously injured others, including children.

Even the former residents of Vela Celeste, already evicted, continue to protest the lack of housing solutions. “We have been looking for a house to rent for months, but the owners refuse”, says Bruno, highlighting a prejudice towards those who come from Scampia.

“There is racism towards those who come from here”, he adds, understanding the fears but underlining the goodness of many people who live in Scampia.

Today, the municipal police notified the eviction order to several residents of the Red and Yellow Sails, with a total of 52 ordinances issued. According to the municipal census, approximately 270 families, over a thousand people live in these two Vele.

The mayor of Naples, Gaetano ManfrediSaid: "Those who come from the Vele must not be stigmatized. We are in a transitional phase towards a definitive solution, but an act of solidarity is also necessary."

Manfredi he explained that, after technical evaluations in August, they will proceed with the evacuation of about sixty apartments, giving the residents time to move. “Many have already moved independently”, he added, predicting that within a week they will proceed with the others. The plan is to demolish the Vele and build new housing.

However, the reality for the evicted is harsh. Writings on the walls of the Celestial Sailing including “Right to housing” e “No one can understand the pain we feel when we leave our home” they reflect the discomfort.

Emanuela, another resident, tells how real estate agencies refuse to rent to those who come from Scampia, complaining about the absence of institutions: "They are abandoning us. The municipal subsidy is not enough; we want our rights and our dignity. And we ask that they start building new houses."