“Hosting a Student” is a co-housing model between independent elderly people and university students from outside Milan. MeglioMilano’s initiative is based on a very simple idea: find lodging for students in the homes of elderly people who have a spare room.

The students do not pay rent as such, but pay a monthly sum of about €250 to the house owner, which includes the expenses of house-sharing. They also perform practical tasks, and provide company for the elderly person, who in addition to suffering less from loneliness can enjoy the satisfaction of still feeling useful.
MeglioMilano collects and processes the requests for participation and learns more about those young and not-so-young who wish to take part in the experience. It organises meetings and offers assistance throughout the learning and house-sharing process.

The indicators that are of greatest help when assigning the pairings are expectations from the experience, certain personality traits, tastes and general habits. MeglioMilano gets to know the elderly people who wish to offer lodgings through meeting them in their homes, and observing the students in joint meetings.

Depending on the offers received, attempts are made to ensure that the student is as near as possible to his or her university, thereby reducing journey times and leaving as much free time as possible to spend studying or in company.

The house-sharing is regulated by a hospitality agreement. There is the possibility, according to the wishes of the parties, to renew the house-sharing contract for the following year, with a summer break in August, and if the situation is mutually unsatisfactory the contract may be rescinded at any time.