Article by Jason Nardi and Franca Crisci, RIES – Rete Italiana Economia Solidale
Intentional communities represent an alternative social model based on shared living, economic cooperation, and environmental sustainability. Whether in rural ecovillages or urban co-housing projects, these communities foster strong social bonds and innovative approaches to resource management. In Italy, despite their growing presence, they remain in a legal gray area, often forced to register as associations or cooperatives, which do not fully reflect their nature and create unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles.
Since 2008, organizations such as the Italian Network of Ecological Villages (RIVE) and the National Coordination of Communities for Ethical and Spiritual Research (CONACREIS) have been advocating for a legal framework that recognizes and supports intentional communities. After an initial attempt in 2010, a new bill was presented in Parliament in 2020, with the support also of RIES – the Italian Solidarity Economy Network. The proposal seeks to define intentional communities as groups of individuals who share not only spaces and resources but also a collective vision of life, structured through participatory governance and mutual support.
The bill aims to establish a clear legal status for these communities, enabling them to acquire legal personality and register in a national database. This would allow them to access public and European funding under third-sector regulations and collaborate with local governments to revitalize abandoned rural areas, restore public properties, and contribute to environmental conservation. The economic model outlined in the bill ensures that community assets remain collectively owned, with income reinvested into communal projects rather than distributed as personal profit. At the same time, it acknowledges the importance of social rights within these communities, recognizing the duty of mutual assistance among members, including support in healthcare decisions and inheritance matters in cases where no direct heirs exist. Additionally, communities engaged in sustainability efforts, such as waste reduction and self-sufficient agriculture, could be officially recognized as environmental stewards, reinforcing their contribution to the broader society.
Beyond its legal and economic implications, the proposal highlights the role of intentional communities as laboratories for social innovation. By promoting collaborative living, sustainable practices, and inclusive decision-making, these communities challenge conventional models of housing and social organization, offering viable alternatives to isolation and overconsumption.
The path to the approval of the bill on Intentional Communities remains uncertain (with last years parlamentary elections, the process needs to be restarted), but the growing interest in alternative living models suggests a shift in how society views collective and sustainable lifestyles. If passed, this law could set a precedent for recognizing and supporting communities that place human relationships and ecological responsibility at the center of their vision, paving the way for a more inclusive, resilient and solidarity-based future.
