Support for the Social Impact Assessment model of actions aimed at addressing severe adult marginalization in the Municipality of Milan

Principal investigator: Elisabetta Notarnicola

Team UB/Cergas: Elisabetta Listorti, Simone Manfredi, Piergiacomo Mion Dalle Carbonare 

Sponsor: Comune di Milano

Duration: January – December 2023

Abstract:

Throughout 2023, CERGAS SDA Bocconi supported the Municipality of Milan in a Social Impact Assessment process for the actions aimed at addressing severe adult marginalization. The research involved employees, collaborators, and volunteers from Third Sector organizations and the Municipality of Milan both in the design of the evaluation framework and in the subsequent data collection. The framework consists of five impact dimensions, for which specific data collection methods (i.e., interviews, focus groups, and surveys) have been triangulated.

  1. Beneficiaries. Evidence demonstrates the ability of the Milan social service network to address key needs effectively, though the network must improve in adapting to individual-specific needs and diversifying its offerings for sub-target groups.
     
  2. Citizenship. Surveyed citizens from Milan show a generally positive attitude toward homeless individuals. However, their understanding of the multidimensional nature of homelessness is inconsistent, and the phenomenon’s prevalence is often overestimated.
     
  3. Operators and volunteers. A positive impact on skill development has been observed among Third Sector organizations, especially thanks to direct interaction with homeless individuals through fieldwork. However, volunteers, professionals, and municipal employees often work without recognizing the mutual enrichment so that synergies between them could be enhanced.
     
  4. Network. Coordination between the Municipality and Third Sectors organizations emerges as a critical factor, highlighting a successful integration model for network services benefiting homeless individuals. Yet, challenging integration with other services (e.g., healthcare sector) underscores the need for further investment to provide holistic care.
     
  5. Municipality. Evidence shows that the Municipality actively contributes to policy implementation by promoting shared values and goals among the local actors. However, the sharing of data and information necessary for service planning is less consistent. Similarly, greater investment in communicating the value generated to citizens is needed.

Presentations:  

Society’s recognition of public value: the role played by citizens’ perceptions. EGPA Conference 2024, Athens (Greece), 3-6 September 2024.