The little Sicilian town of Gangi has seen its population shrink from 16,000 in the 1950s to 7,000 today, and with the dwindling population many of the buildings have fallen into disrepair. So, the local government has decided to just give houses away to whoever wants them, the catch, of course, being that the new owners will have to sink a good deal of money into fixing them up. Still, the initiative has generated a lot of interest, and there is already a sizable waiting list for the 200 remaining houses, meaning that the government can pick and choose who will put them to the best use.
· Sicilian Town Tells Outsiders: Take Our Homes. Please. [NYT]
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