San Marcellino

San Marcellino is a non-profit association (ONLUS) based in the historic centre of Genoa, Italy, dedicated to assisting people experiencing homelessness and extreme poverty. It was founded in 1945 around the Church of San Marcellino by Father Paolo Lampedosa S.J., originally under the name "La Messa del Povero," to help Genoese who had lost their homes during the Second World War. Over the decades, the association has adapted its work to the changing forms of severe hardship in the city: from post-war homelessness, to the integration difficulties of migrants from southern Italy and the islands in the 1960s and 1970s, to the "new poverties" and social exclusion phenomena from the 1980s onward. Since the 1980s, San Marcellino has focused on welcoming and accompanying people without stable housing through social rehabilitation pathways aimed at restoring autonomy and a dignified, meaningful life. Its methodology is articulated through a range of service structures: a listening centre that serves as the entry point to services; one male emergency night shelter; two second-level male night shelters and one female night shelter; two residential communities; around fifteen assisted individual apartments; two canteens; a medical clinic; a day centre with shower and health services; a day centre operating as an afternoon social club; five internal workshops preparing people for external employment; and a summer holiday stay in the mountains. These activities involve more than thirty operators and approximately five hundred volunteers. The association is connected to the Jesuits' commitment to the promotion of social justice and is part of the Jesuit Social Network Italia (JSN). It also collaborates with national and international bodies such as the Federazione Italiana degli Organismi che operano con le Persone Senza Dimora (FIOPSD) and its European counterpart FEANTSA. In 1991, the Fondazione San Marcellino was established alongside the association to raise funds and to make real estate properties available free of charge for the main service locations. The association also runs SMacc, the San Marcellino Cultural Centre, focused on art, culture and creativity, and participates in European research-action projects in the social field, including partnerships in Spain, France and Germany. Its work is documented in publications, including two volumes published by FrancoAngeli, and it maintains a presence in national debate through articles and conferences.

The Associazione San Marcellino was founded in 1945 around the Church of San Marcellino in Genoa by Father Paolo Lampedosa S.J., initially under the name "La Messa del Povero." Its original purpose was to assist Genoese who had lost their homes in the historic centre due to the Second World War. In the post-war period, the association addressed the emergency of homelessness. During the 1960s and 1970s, it responded to the arrival of migrants from southern Italy and the islands and their integration difficulties. From the 1980s onward, it turned its attention to new forms of poverty and social exclusion, developing social rehabilitation pathways aimed at restoring autonomy and a dignified life for people experiencing homelessness. In 1991, the Fondazione San Marcellino was established alongside the association to raise funds and to provide real estate properties free of charge for the main service locations. Over time, the association built a complex methodology involving a listening centre, night shelters, residential communities, assisted apartments, canteens, a medical clinic, day centres, workshops, and a summer holiday stay. It also developed cultural and training activities, including the SMacc Cultural Centre, annual courses such as "Operare con le persone senza dimora" in partnership with the University of Bologna, and public lecture series like "Intorno a noi." The association is part of the Jesuit Social Network Italia and collaborates with FIOPSD and FEANTSA, as well as European organisations in Spain, France, and Germany. Its work involves more than thirty operators and approximately five hundred volunteers.

• 2024

  Pope Francis addressed the Jesuit Social Network, including San Marcellino, on 25 March.

• 2008

  Eighth edition of the annual course "Operare con le persone senza dimora" in partnership with the University of Bologna, and eighth cycle of public conferences "Intorno a noi."

• 1991

  Fondazione San Marcellino established to raise funds and provide properties for the association's services.

• 1980

  Began welcoming and accompanying people experiencing homelessness through social rehabilitation pathways.

• 1960

  Responded to the integration difficulties of migrants from southern Italy and the islands.

• 1945

  Founded as "La Messa del Povero" by Father Paolo Lampedosa S.J. around the Church of San Marcellino in Genoa.

A Jesuit-inspired non-profit organisation promoting human dignity and the reception of people experiencing homelessness through social rehabilitation and cultural engagement.

• Centro d'ascolto (listening centre)

  The entry point to the association's services, with around one hundred daily contacts.

• Night shelters

  One male emergency night shelter, two second-level male night shelters, and one female night shelter.

• Residential communities

  Two residential communities for people in rehabilitation pathways.

• Assisted individual apartments

  Around fifteen individual apartments with assistance.

• Canteens

  Two canteens providing meals.

• Medical clinic

  An ambulatorio medico offering medical services.

• Day centres

  A day centre with shower and health services, and a day centre as an afternoon social club.

• Internal workshops

  Five internal workshops preparing people for external employment.

• Summer holiday stay

  A summer holiday stay in the mountains.

• SMacc Cultural Centre

  A cultural centre focused on art, culture and creativity, promoting inclusive and non-judgmental coexistence.

1. 1San Marcellino opera Gesuiti - Dove la vita ricomincia | Genovasanmarcellino.it
2. 2Associazione San Marcellino - Wikipediait.wikipedia.org
3. 3San Marcellino - Wikidatawikidata.org