“A permit to stay, but no place to stay”: Former unaccompanied minors experiences of rental racism as ‘adults’ in Bologna

Titolo Rivista MONDI MIGRANTI
Autori/Curatori Sarah Walker
Anno di pubblicazione 2025 Fascicolo 2025/3
Lingua Inglese Numero pagine 22 P. 191-214 Dimensione file 187 KB
DOI 10.3280/MM2025-003009
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This paper places focus on the little explored space of the transition to adulthood and beyond for young African men who sought asylum in Italy as ‘unaccompanied minors’. Empirical data is drawn from over five years’ ethnographic research (2017 – 2023) with the young men, housed originally in a reception centre for minors in Bologna. The paper traces the young men’s experiences both within and beyond the reception system that housed them as minors. Once outside the reception system, when the young men must access the private rental market as ‘adults’, they find their mobility within the city constrained by their racialisation and marginalization. This paper places attention on the housing crisis that is afflicting Bologna and how, for the young men, as racialized migrants, the effects of the crisis are worse. It evidences how the borders of race continue to create problems for these young men as they seek to make claims to space and belonging, to find a home in Bologna as ‘adults’.

Questo articolo pone l’attenzione sulla transizione verso l’età adulta e oltre per i giovani africani che hanno chiesto asilo in Italia come “minori non accompagnati”. I dati empirici provengono da oltre cinque anni di ricerca etnografica (2017 – 2023) con i giovani, originariamente ospitati in un centro di accoglienza per minori a Bologna. Il contributo ripercorre le esperienze dei ragazzi dentro e fuori il sistema di accoglienza. Una volta fuori, quando si trovano a dover accedere da “adulti” al mercato privato degli affitti, emerge che la loro mobilità all’interno della città è vincolata dalla loro razzializzazione ed emarginazione. L’articolo mette luce sulla crisi abitativa che sta affliggendo Bologna e su come, per questi giovani, in quanto migranti razzializzati, gli effetti della crisi siano peggiori. Ciò evidenzia come i confini razziali continuino a creare problemi a questi giovani che cercano di reclamare un senso di appartenenza, per trovare casa a Bologna da “adulti”.

Parole chiave:minori stranieri non accompagnati; neomaggiorenni; migrazioni, transizione alla maggiore età; razzismo.

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Sarah Walker, “A permit to stay, but no place to stay”: Former unaccompanied minors experiences of rental racism as ‘adults’ in Bologna in "MONDI MIGRANTI" 3/2025, pp 191-214, DOI: 10.3280/MM2025-003009