In a concerning development, homelessness in Portugal has surged by 78%, with a growing number of individuals forced to live on the streets, in makeshift tents, or on cardboard scraps.

Recent official statistics reveal a total of 10,773 homeless people in Portugal, marking a stark increase of 78% within just four years.

Renata Alves, the General Director of Comunidade Vida e Paz, sheds light on the disturbing trend, noting that this increase has affected a wide range of people, spanning from Portuguese citizens to foreigners, and from the young to the elderly. Alves further highlights that the current year alone has seen an additional 25% surge in homelessness, primarily attributed to deteriorating living conditions, increased immigration, and rising drug consumption.

Rita Valadas underscores the changing landscape of homelessness, emphasizing that the profile of those affected has become notably diverse. In the past, homelessness was primarily associated with men grappling with mental health or addiction issues, but today, entire families are facing the dire predicament of being without a home.

Américo Nave, the Director of Associação Crescer, does not mince words, pointing out the failure to address the issue effectively. Despite considerable financial resources being allocated, the problem of homelessness persists, with more than ten thousand individuals living on the streets and no designated funding in the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) to provide them with stable housing. The available funds are primarily directed towards temporary and emergency solutions, rather than comprehensive resolutions.

Renata Alves echoes the sentiment that the current support structures are inadequate to accommodate the growing number of individuals experiencing homelessness. Existing shelters and facilities are operating at maximum capacity, and organizations are grappling with escalating costs, diminished support, and dwindling donations.

Rita Valadas aptly summarizes the situation as "very aggressive" and emphasizes that the existing responses have not been adequately scaled to confront a crisis of this magnitude.

On the occasion of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa called for new strategies and action models to combat poverty. He highlighted the need for a comprehensive approach and effective monitoring and evaluation of initiatives to address the growing challenge of poverty in the country, stressing that Portugal cannot accept nearly two million individuals living in poverty. Photo by Pedro Ribeiro Simões from Lisboa, Portugal, Wikimedia commons.