Abstract

Local practices of control and manipulation of residence policies shape selective devices aimed at excluding «undesired» individuals. Since the residence status is strictly connected to the enjoyment of other rights, its discretionary denial results in a condition of precariousness and uncertainty. This article explores the case of homeless migrants as they constitute the primary target of these discriminatory policies. Firstly, a theoretical framework concerning street-level bureaucracy trends and multi-level governance systems is presented to address the ways in which local administrative arbitrariness determines civic stratification dynamics. Likewise, research conducted across the district of Florence reveals a troublesome path towards the acquisition and maintenance of the resident status; this, therefore, affects the possibility to freely access the healthcare system. As a result, a gap emerges between the legislative framework and the actual implementation thereof.