Voices from the Margins: COVID-19 and Precarious Housing Experiences of Low- Skilled Migrants in Italy

Journal title MONDI MIGRANTI
Author/s Senyo Dotsey
Publishing Year 2026 Issue 2026/2
Language Italian Pages 25 P. 160-184 File size 291 KB
DOI 10.3280/MM2026-002009
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This study examines the housing conditions of low-skilled migrants in Italy during the COVID-19 pandemic, a critical period that exposed the vulnerabilities of marginalised groups within the labour market, drawing on data from qualitative research conducted between 2022 and 2024. The research findings showed that low-skilled migrants, particularly those with precarious employment of varying legal statuses, experienced significant housing instability exacerbated by economic precarity and limited access to welfare support. The pandemic illuminated the systemic inequalities entrenched in the Italian labour market, highlighting that labour precarity directly impacts migrants’ housing conditions, social integration, and overall quality of life. By situating these experiences within the broader context of migration and the economic downturn due to the pandemic, this study underscores the need for policy interventions that address housing inequality and protect the rights of vulnerable and marginalised populations.

Keywords: COVID-19; low-skilled migrants; precarious housing; systemic inequalities.

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Senyo Dotsey, Voci dai margini: COVID-19 e l’esperienza abitativa precaria dei migranti poco qualificati in Italia in "MONDI MIGRANTI" 2/2026, pp 160-184, DOI: 10.3280/MM2026-002009