Milan Students Protest Housing Crisis

MILAN, ITALY, OCTOBER 12, 2026: A small group of roughly ten student activists gathers outside the COIMA headquarters, near the Bosco Verticale (Vertical Forest), to protest the high cost of living, soaring housing prices and the commodification of education. Organized by student groups UDU Milano and UDU Statale, the demonstration highlights the steep deficit in affordable student housing, noting that Milan hosts roughly 100,000 out-of-town students but offers fewer than 16,000 public university residential beds. Banners at the protest read ‘Generazione all’Asta’ (Generation at Auction) and ‘Cara Italia quanto ci costi’ (Dear Italy, how much you cost us), demanding immediate public funding for transport, public services and the fundamental right to study. Photo by Nadia Caimi / JNA Press (Photo by Nadia Caimi/JNA Press via Nexpher Images)