Calabria has launched a new housing initiative offering 50 rent-free homes for 10 years to attract residents to small villages, Libertatea reported.
Under the project, named Ripopola Calabria, regional authorities will fully fund property renovations to help reverse the depopulation of shrinking rural settlements.
The regional government will pay up to 2,000 euros per square metre for building repairs, capped at 280,000 euros for each property. The financial support does not cover furniture.
Selected residents will not receive ownership of the buildings. Instead, participants receive free use of the homes for a 10-year period, throughout which they must keep their permanent registration at the property. Subletting the accommodation or using it to run a tourism business is prohibited.
Eligibility criteria and priority groups
Applications are open to legal adults who have lived outside Calabria for at least three years and are willing to relocate there on a permanent basis. Candidates must not have previously received state financial assistance to buy a home.
Selection officials will give preference to young couples, families with children, single-parent households, remote workers, self-employed workers, cultural professionals and people with disabilities. A distinct priority is also reserved for Calabrians wanting to return to their home region.
Deadlines and construction timelines
Candidates can select up to three houses and rank them by preference. Submissions must be made through the official program portal by 5:00 p.m. on December 18, 2026. Applicants require digital verification through the SPID system, an electronic identity card or the eIDAS network.
Calabria, located in the southern tip of the Italian peninsula, has seen dozens of historic hill towns and farming communities lose population as young people move away for work. The European eIDAS regulation and Italy's SPID platform allow citizens to verify their identity securely when accessing public administration portals.
After officials choose the winners and sign agreements with local municipalities, renovation work must finish within 18 months. Only after the construction is complete will authorities hand over the keys to the new residents.
