Efforts have been made by the Commission to alleviate the pressing issue of the housing shortage.
The housing crisis in Portugal continues to be a contentious issue, with activist groups like Vida Justa accusing the government of passing the responsibility to local authorities and failing to address the crisis effectively.
In an open letter titled "Stop evictions and resolve the housing situation", Vida Justa criticizes the Portuguese government (PSD/CDS-PP) for not addressing the crisis, despite having ministers and state secretaries with competencies in the matter. The letter, which can be signed online, demands the immediate suspension of evictions in municipalities like Loures, Amadora, and Odivelas, where violent evictions have been reported without social or housing guidance.
Rita Silva, a social economist and activist from Vida Justa, argues that a national emergency program is needed to address the housing crisis in Portugal. She compares the housing crisis to a natural disaster, stating that temporary housing solutions should be implemented until permanent solutions are found. Silva is one of the signatories of the open letter.
The Government of Portugal has implemented several policies to address the housing crisis. These include incentives and financing for constructing and renovating residential properties, measures to simplify licensing processes, tax and fee reductions, encouragement of new housing models, rent measures, programs to improve living conditions and energy efficiency, and public support for ensuring access to adequate housing.
However, activist groups like Vida Justa may have mixed reactions to these policies. While some measures, such as increasing the supply of affordable housing and reducing bureaucratic barriers, align with activists' goals, others might be seen as insufficient or overly reliant on market mechanisms. The lack of effective rent control measures and the focus on market-friendly solutions might be criticized by groups seeking more direct government intervention to address affordability and access to housing.
One such program, the "Door of Entry", which provides support for housing for people in urgent need, is not deemed enough by Rita Silva to address the housing crisis. Amnesty International has also warned of potential human rights violations due to the demolitions in these municipalities.
On Tuesday, the Minister of Infrastructure and Housing, Miguel Pinto Luz, acknowledged the government's concern about the situation but admitted it's not enough to just be concerned. The minister did not specify any new measures or plans to address the housing crisis in the mentioned municipalities.
Despite it being a duty that falls to the Central Government, it was the local authorities who stepped up in the candidatures to the Recovery and Resilience Plan and the implementation of the 1st Right - Programme of Support for Access to Housing. However, the deadlines given by the municipal chambers for vacating homes are often intolerable and violate legal provisions, according to Vida Justa.
This ongoing housing crisis, with its complexities and the mixed reactions from activist groups, underscores the need for a comprehensive and effective solution from the Portuguese government.
- What is Vida Justa's position on the Government of Portugal's housing crisis policies? They may have mixed reactions, as some measures align with their goals, but others might be seen as insufficient or overly reliant on market mechanisms, particularly the lack of effective rent control measures and the focus on market-friendly solutions.
- Regarding the existing program, "Door of Entry", which provides support for housing for people in urgent need, activist Rita Silva from Vida Justa believes it is not enough to address the ongoing housing crisis in Portugal.
- In the ongoing housing crisis, where local authorities have been tasked with implementing solutions under the Recovery and Resilience Plan and the 1st Right - Programme of Support for Access to Housing, Vida Justa argues that the deadlines given for vacating homes are often intolerable and violate legal provisions.
