Moving to Italy is, for many, a long-held dream. The practical side can be daunting: an unfamiliar bureaucracy, a new language and different ways of doing things. Few newcomers know that every part of Italy is covered by an Ambito Territoriale Sociale (ATS), the local network of public social services, and that it can be a useful point of contact for residents, Italian or foreign.
An Ambito Territoriale Sociale is a group of neighbouring comuni that plan and run their social services together, under a shared plan known as the Piano Sociale di Zona. One comune acts as the lead (the comune capofila). The services are aimed above all at residents who need support: families, children, older people, people with disabilities and people in difficulty, including immigrants. What each ATS offers varies from one area to another, so treat what follows as a guide to the kinds of help available rather than a guarantee.
Information and orientation
The first stop is usually the segretariato sociale, the social services information desk, which explains what services exist locally, who is eligible and how to apply. For newcomers, that can save a great deal of time in working out how things are done.
Language is one of the biggest hurdles. Many ATS and their partner organisations can point you towards local Italian courses, and some services for immigrants offer cultural mediators who can help in important conversations with public offices.
Health and social care
Registering with the Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (SSN), Italy’s public health system, is handled by the local health authority (Azienda Sanitaria Locale, or ASL), and you will need a Codice Fiscale (tax code). Social services work alongside the ASL on care that crosses health and social needs.
This is where the ATS matters most. For families caring for an older relative, a child with special needs or a family member who needs support at home, the ATS is the gateway to local social workers, home care, day centres and other services, subject to eligibility rules.
Children and families
The ATS can provide information on family services and on childcare, including public nurseries (asili nido) and, in some areas, after-school or summer programmes. Social workers can also tell families which local and regional benefits they may be entitled to and how to apply. School enrolment itself is handled by schools and the comune.
Paperwork and legal questions
The ATS is not a general bureaucracy helpdesk, but its services for immigrants can help with some of the harder procedures, such as residence permit applications, and with legal and employment advice. For other tasks, such as registering as a resident at the anagrafe, opening a bank account or setting up public utilities, you will be dealing with the comune, the bank or the utility company directly.
Work
Immigrant services within some ATS offer employment advice and support in finding work, often in partnership with local job centres (centri per l’impiego) and training bodies. For starting a business, a commercialista and the local chamber of commerce are the right places to begin.
Housing
Social services can advise people on low incomes about housing support, such as help with rent where regional or local schemes exist, and about social housing. They are not an estate agency, but they can explain what help is available and who qualifies.
Community and integration
Many ATS fund or promote community projects, intercultural centres and volunteering, often run with local associations. These are good ways to meet people, practise your Italian and feel part of the place.
The intercultural centre in Lecce
In Lecce, the Centro Interculturale Lecce Accoglie works with the immigrant population to support integration. According to the Comune di Lecce, it offers a front-office information desk, legal and employment advice, help with finding work, assistance with residence permit applications and training activities. It is in via Marco Basseo, inside Palazzo Turrisi.
The Comune lists its opening hours as Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9am to noon, and Tuesday and Thursday from 3pm to 6pm. Telephone 0832 276843 or 0832 682087, and call ahead to confirm the hours before you go.
Examples in the Salento
- Ambito Territoriale Sociale Gallipoli
- Ambito Territoriale Sociale Galatina
- Ambito Territoriale Sociale Lecce, led by the Comune di Lecce
In short
The Ambito Territoriale Sociale is not the first office most expats think of, but it can be a real help, above all for families, for anyone caring for a relative, and for immigrants dealing with permits and work. Find out which ATS covers your comune, visit its information desk, and you will know where to turn if you ever need support.
