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At Modena’s San Cataldo Cemetery, Homeless Found Sleeping in Empty Niches

City officials say some occupants refused outreach, underscoring winter strain from steep local rent increases.

Overview

  • Local reports and photos show blankets, a single mattress and personal effects placed inside ground‑level loculi at the San Cataldo complex.
  • A resident told reporters she saw people exiting the cemetery at dawn, and a Corriere visit found an easily opened gate and bedding in the “Sotterraneo N” corridor.
  • Modena’s assessora for Security and the Third Sector said two men previously flagged by social services declined assistance, noting the city’s cold‑weather plan is active.
  • A nearby shelter, Porta Aperta, offers 50 beds and services, and staff said a nearby tent camp was recently dismantled, which may have pushed people to seek other cover.
  • Union data cited in the coverage show room rents in Modena jumped about 31% year over year to roughly €505, while Istat estimates at least 100,000 people lack fixed housing nationwide.