Looping strategies. Moral slippages between the certain and the uncertain in a Roman temporary housing area

The research paper examines the evolution of a housing complex called Bastogi in Rome, which started as temporary housing for university students and travelers but has since become a permanent reality for many individuals experiencing severe housing deprivation. The paper explores the concept of looping effect, which refers to how classifications such as "squatter" or "people in housing emergency" shape individuals' perceptions of themselves and perpetuate the ideology of victim-blaming. The author argues that the temporary housing assistance policies in Rome have perpetuated chronic emergency for a significant portion of the urban population, leading to systematic preferences and exclusions formalized in policies that mainly benefit middle and working-class people. The paper also highlights the impact of these labels on individuals living in Bastogi, with some responding with violent performances or embracing a gangster habitus as a form of resistant agency. Furthermore, the paper discusses the cyclical nature of knowledge generation processes and the challenges faced by individuals trying to transition out of temporary accommodation. It concludes by emphasizing the constant struggle of individuals in Bastogi to distance themselves from the imposed labels and navigate their social, moral, and political distance from institutions and the rest of the city.