For Thomas Marrocu, 33 years old and a body that has long chosen not to give him a break, the idea of home is a matter of pure survival. Every day spent in Quartucciu, among the people and places he has always known, is the result of a struggle: against pain, against architectural barriers and against a system that only considers him halfway. In a few months, however, Thomas will have to leave the apartment that has been his refuge for the last seven years. The owner has decided to sell, and the possibility of finding another home that will allow him to live with dignity seems to be getting further and further away.

The outburst

"I feel part of the neighborhood. I know how to get around, where I can go, who I can call for help or even just to talk," he explains bitterly. Thomas, who has a serious form of muscular dystrophy, does not feel like a victim, but needs an apartment without barriers, a two-room or a studio apartment where he can move around with his wheelchair, purchased years ago thanks to the solidarity of friends who organized a fundraiser for him. "In my condition, no one wants to give me a house," the young man says with regret, "but I cannot risk being on the street and despite numerous searches, finding suitable accommodation in the Cagliari area is proving extremely difficult." At every step, he finds a closed door: reluctant owners, unsuitable homes, unaffordable costs.

The appeal

His world is that of someone who, although limited in body, has a free mind and heart. Thomas is at the forefront of every demonstration for accessibility, he tirelessly asks that the city tear down those invisible walls that keep him a prisoner. Often, however, he clashes with the indifference and inertia of the institutions. "The Municipality knows perfectly well what my situation is, but no one has come forward," he admits.

Thomas is well-known in the neighborhood, a familiar presence: he moves everywhere with his wheelchair and does not give up cheering on his favorite team, Cagliari, every time he manages to reach the stadium. Those who know him know that the smile that Thomas maintains even in the hardest moments is the reflection of a fierce will.

“I want nothing more than a rental house,” he says with a simplicity that leaves an impression. “I have the right to live peacefully, without having to fear the next month.”

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