“In the last ten years in our country a new social plague has developed because of the increase in separations and divorces”. This is what Gian Ettore Gassani, National president of the Italian association of marriage lawyers. Every year in Italy around 160,00 people separate and 100,000 are the new divorced.

“This phenomenon concerns workers, employees and teachers. Separations and divorces, because of economic duties and various expenses, transform these people in real “homeless” – said Gassani – 25% of the people who eat at the canteen for the poor are separated or divorced”. “In 80% of cases there are separated fathers, obliged to maintain their wives and children and do not have anything left to survive. Many of them sleep in their cars and the most fortunate (around 500,00) returned to their parents. These numbers give the shivers”, added Gassani.

“We need new welfare politics that give dignity back to people who have had an unlucky marriage, who lost everything and live an emarginated life. We need measures to guarantee a shelter for these new poor, but also economic help. They also have the right to benefit from equal opportunities. When you loose dignity, you also risk not being a good parent”, ended Gassani.

Translated by Chiara Nunnari from John Milton Institute