Today’s Solutions: June 18, 2025

In the small town of Rescaldina, Italy, Ukrainian refugees fleeing the Russian invasion are finding a safe haven in unexpected dwellings: the homes of Italy’s ‘Ndrangheta, one of the most powerful Mafia-type organizations in the nation.

According to the town’s mayor, Gilles Andrè Ielo, the decision to use the large number of assets that the government has seized from Italy’s criminal organizations as homes for refugee families was taken by the Interior ministry. Currently, the National Agency for the Administration of Assets Confiscated from Organized Crime manages a total of approximately 40,000 properties.

Tetiana, a woman who’s escaped Ukraine from Bucha with her children, was the first to stay in one of the ‘Ndrangheta’s former houses in Rescaldina.

When mayor Ielo recalls picking up Tetiana and her family for the first time, he gets emotional. “The fact that they were not in a reception center with too many people, but rather in a proper house made them feel much calmer,” Ielo says.

Using these assets for social good is not just a way to help those in need, but it “sends out a very strong message to organized criminals,” says Bruno Corda, the director of the National Agency for the Administration of Assets Confiscated from Organized Crime.

Solutions News Source Print this article
More of Today's Solutions

A splash of good news for oceans: new plastic dissolves in seawater in just h...

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a world drowning in plastic, scientists in Japan may have found a lifeline. Researchers from the RIKEN ...

Read More

Young adults are the driving force behind hopeful future for a smoke-free Ame...

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Smoking in America is steadily declining, and young adults are at the forefront of this health transformation. A ...

Read More

Scientists discover prehistoric dolphin species in landlocked Switzerland

Paleontologists have recently made an extraordinary discovery in landlocked Switzerland: two new species of dolphin dating back to 20 million years ago. Ancient dolphin ...

Read More

Project Green Light by Google: transforming urban traffic for a cleaner commute

Google's Maps app tapped into a rich mine of everyday traffic data, which holds the key to changing urban mobility. This information, gathered from ...

Read More