The structure is part of the oratory of Sant'Anna in Prato. It is managed by the association "La lunga Domenica” which for years has been supporting social activities for young people in the city. According to the manager Corrado, "The novelty of the project is the choice of a 'house' instead of a large condo. This allows us to cultivate relationships and share social occasions. Here there is space for the family (parent-child) but also a place to invite their relatives. We can develop friendship, dialogue and self-help. It is meant primarily to support children and fathers in a material way. All the activities in the house are for the protection of the children."
Casa Francesco offers the fathers common areas for socializing and exchanging experiences. In agreement with the representatives of the structure, every father can spend the night with his own son and encourage him to participate in art workshops organized for the little ones. "Our condition gets less attention," says 51-year-old Marco, one of the fathers accommodated in the home. "In the collective imagination, the mother is always the mother, as if she had all the rights and we had none. I lost my job before we separated. That was 2010 and I have not found one since. Later I had a series of health problems, some of them serious. In recent years, I have worked a bit here and there for three months as a mechanics especially for a company in Calenzano. Now, I'm waiting for them to call me."
Casa Francesco is not only a tangible response to the material needs of these fathers (who in some cases have to sleep in the car or in temporary houses) but also a real opportunity to show social solidarity.
