Franca, a 94-year-old woman in Florence, faces losing her home after her landlord announced a large rent increase. Her monthly payment would rise from €450 to €1,200 when her rental contract ends in February. Her family says she cannot afford to renew it at that price.
She has lived in the apartment since the early 1960s. Her husband lived there too, and that is where their daughter entered the world. Franca’s daughter says nowhere else feels as much like home to her mother. Franca receives a small pension and a pension following her husband’s death. Her daughter says paying the higher rent would leave her with almost nothing for everyday needs, including food.
The family accepts that rent cannot remain unchanged forever. Her daughter is willing to help pay a smaller increase, but says the proposed amount is impossible. She also says there was no opportunity to discuss a compromise. She has contacted Sunia, a union that supports people who rent their homes, for help.
