From January to 15 April 2005, the Accessory for Social Policy of the Municipality of Rome,  the Transport Agency of Rome (ATAC), and the Trambus, promoted a new service for the homeless community of the Rome Metropolitan Area. Four tourist buses were out in the city every night to assist the homeless, and where possible, transport them to an emergency shelter. From the first day of the project, Erythros Association staff and volunteers were present on the buses and on the streets of Rome, putting their years of experience working with the homeless to use.

The project operative plan, developed by our Association and the Social Services of the Municipality of Rome, dictated that every night the bus would make a series of stops to allow the homeless to get on, have a hot drink and rest for a while. Then, beneficiaries had the option to either get off the bus or continue on along the route which ended at a night shelter (or if the route finished in the morning, to a day shelter) where they were allowed a shower and a change of clothes.

The itineraries were set to run along areas with the highest concentration of homeless people.  
Thus, routes covered the following areas of the city: 

• The via Marsala post office, via Giolitti, Piazza dei Cinquecento, Piazza Barberini, via del Tritone, via del Corso, piazza Venezia, Corso Vittorio Emanuele, Ponte Sisto, Piazza Trilussa, the via Mormorata post office, Ostiense Station, Piramide, viale Aventino and Circus Maximus, as well as the San Giovanni and Tuscolana neighborhoods, the area surrounding Tiburtina Stazione and the streets of Municipi * V, VI, VII e VIII.

Every Gran Turismo bus could hold up to 49 seated passengers, as well as the driver and 2 staff members.

Thermoses filled with hot drinks, blankets and warm clothing were distributed on board; the busses were in constant contact with the Sala Operativa Sociale (“Social Operating Room”) of the Municipality of Rome.  Those who did not wish to get on the bus received, a hot meal and a blanket nonetheless. In so doing, the project aimed to establish a relationship of trust that might lead to greater contact on a future route. A file was started for each beneficiary documenting the establishment of contact. In particular, staff recorded the date and time of contact, as well as the type of assistance provided, and biographical data of the beneficiary. In this way staff was able to provide a certain level of continuity for subsequent occasions of assistance.

Ten staff members were involved in the project, taking shifts from 7:30pm to 7:00am four times per week, providing assistance to the homeless, either on the bus, or on the ground in places where the homeless are found.