Need help? Where, what and how

Need help? Where, what and how

Ukrainians in Italy may face a range of difficulties related to their legal status, social protection, health care, education, employment, housing and other aspects of life. In such cases they can count on help from various public bodies and civil society organisations working in Italy. In this article we describe the most common types of help available to Ukrainians in Italy and how to apply for them.

Help from the state

The Italian state provides various kinds of support to foreigners on its territory, depending on their legal status and situation. Here are some of them:

• Child bonus (Bonus Figli) – support for low-income families with children under 18. The amount depends on the number of children and the family’s income. To receive the child bonus, contact INPS (National Social Security Institute) and apply through the online service.
• Housing bonus (Bonus Casa) – support for people on a low income who rent their home in Italy. The amount depends on income, the number of household members and the market rent. To receive the housing bonus, contact the municipality (Comune) where you live and apply through the online service.
• Work bonus (Bonus Lavoro) – support for people on a low income who work in Italy. The amount depends on income, the number of household members and the type of employment contract. To receive the work bonus, contact INPS and submit an application.
• Other bonuses, benefits and forms of support.

Help from civil society organisations

Foreigners in Italy can also get help from various civil society organisations that offer free or low-cost services, such as:

• Caritas – a Catholic humanitarian organisation that helps the poor, the homeless, migrants, refugees and other vulnerable groups. Caritas provides material, legal, medical, educational, psychological and spiritual support, and has many offices throughout Italy where you can ask for help. To receive help from Caritas you need to show documents proving your identity and your situation.
• Red Cross (Croce Rossa) – an international humanitarian organisation that helps people affected by wars, conflicts, disasters, illness and other emergencies. The Red Cross provides medical, sanitary, social, educational, cultural and humanitarian assistance, and has many branches throughout Italy where you can ask for help. To receive help from the Red Cross you need to show documents proving your identity and your situation.
• Volunteer organisations (Organizzazioni di Volontariato) – non-profit organisations that help various groups of people in need, such as children, the elderly, people with disabilities, the sick, migrants, refugees and others. They provide many kinds of services, such as food, clothing, housing, education, culture, sport, leisure, integration and more. They have many branches throughout Italy where you can ask for help. To receive help from a volunteer organisation, contact it and ask about its conditions and requirements.

How to find help in Italy

There are several ways to find help in Italy, including:

• Contact a social worker (Assistente Sociale) – a professional who helps people in difficult situations find resources and solutions to their problems. A social worker can provide information, advice, support, mediation, accompaniment, assessment and referral to the various types of help available in Italy. Social workers work in many settings, such as municipalities, schools, hospitals and centres for migrants, refugees and the homeless. To see a social worker, find the social services centre (Centro di Servizi Sociali) nearest to where you live and book an appointment.
• Contact a public-benefit organisation (Organizzazione di Pubblica Utilità) – an organisation with public-benefit status that provides free or low-cost services to foreigners in need. There are many such organisations in Italy, working in fields such as education, culture, sport, the arts, the environment, human rights, peace and solidarity. To contact one, find the organisation that matches your interests and needs and get in touch by phone, e-mail, its website or social media. Some may require prior registration or membership.
• Contact the Ukrainian community (Comunità Ucraina) – the community of Ukrainians living in Italy, together with their friends and partners. The Ukrainian community helps preserve and develop the Ukrainian language, culture, traditions, history, religion and identity. It also helps people integrate into Italian society, defend their rights and interests, cooperate with other national and ethnic groups, and keep in touch with Ukraine and its diaspora. The Ukrainian community has many organisations, associations, clubs, schools, churches, media outlets, and cultural and sporting events where you can find help, information, advice, company, entertainment and inspiration. To contact the Ukrainian community, find the Ukrainian cultural centre (Centro di Cultura Ucraina) or other Ukrainian organisation nearest to where you live and get in touch by phone, e-mail, its website or social media.

Conclusion

Ukrainians in Italy are not left without help. They can count on various kinds of support from the state and from civil society organisations working in Italy. To get help, you need to know your rights, obligations and opportunities, and turn to the appropriate institutions and services. It is also important to stay in touch with the Ukrainian community, a source of solidarity, culture, identity and pride. Ukrainians in Italy are not just immigrants but citizens who contribute to the development and enrichment of both countries.

You can get answers to your questions here👇

1/ CAF ONLINE

2/ CAF ONLINE