Rome’s Spin Time Labs Eviction Sparks Humanitarian Crisis Amid Heatwave

On July 29, 2026, police locked the red gates of Spin Time Labs, a ten-floor building in Rome’s Esquilino district, after a minor external fire was quickly extinguished by residents. The evacuation displaced roughly 400 people—many children, elderly and disabled—who have been living in tents on the streets amid an intense summer heatwave. A child was hospitalized with breathing difficulties following the exposure.

Evictions and Heatwaves: Inside the Crackdown on Rome's Spin Time Labs

Spin Time Labs has been occupied by grassroots groups since 2013 and evolved into a hub offering a food bank, restaurant, co-working space, after-school club, migration assistance and cultural events. The centre gained international attention in 2019 when Cardinal Konrad Krajewski descended a manhole to restore electricity, prompting criticism from then-interior minister Matteo Salvini.

The Guardian

The Meloni government, which characterises squatted buildings as “dens for criminality,” has pursued a legal battle to repossess the property. A judge issued an eviction order in 2020; the interior ministry was later ordered to pay €21 million in damages for delaying enforcement. The private owner has refused a purchase offer from Rome’s council, citing “unspecified legal weaknesses.”

The Guardian

• Approx. 400 residents displaced (about 25 % children).

Evictions and Heatwaves: Inside the Crackdown on Rome's Spin Time Labs

• More than 200 people, including the elderly and those with ill health, are sleeping in tents.

The Guardian

• One child hospitalized for heat-related breathing problems.

The Guardian

• An interior-ministry spokesperson said the owner had taken repossession “in accordance with the law.”

The Guardian

• Mayor Roberto Gualtieri told a television interview that the council’s offer to buy the building received an “irrevocable no” and that he felt “irritated” by the owner’s stance.

The Guardian

• Interior minister Matteo Piantedosi’s ministry was cited as having been ordered to pay €21 million for failing to act on the 2020 eviction order.

The Guardian

Local activists and cultural figures have condemned the eviction. Author Roberto Saviano called the centre “a symbol of democracy,” while filmmaker Paolo Sorrentino appealed for alternative accommodation. Residents argue the fire was used as a pretext for removal.

The Guardian

• “It’s an awful situation, made worse by this heatwave,” — Petronela Podaro, domestic worker

The Guardian

• “Firefighters made the area safe but then the police arrived and, because we were afraid, we all went outside. They locked the gates and told us we couldn’t go back inside due to the safety checks. Within a few hours, the building was seized.” — Marco Perilli, resident

The Guardian

Rome’s left-wing council, supported by the Catholic charity Caritas, is mobilising volunteers to provide camp beds, food, drink and medical assistance while seeking a permanent solution. The council has reiterated its offer to purchase the building to preserve the community services, but the owner has so far rejected the proposal. Residents, led by long-time occupant Marco Perilli, say they will remain camped outside until a viable alternative is secured.

The Guardian