Gondomar registered 151 homeless people last year, up 200% from 2021, shows a diagnosis to be presented on Tuesday and indicates 68% are male.
In the diagnostic report to which Lusa was available, in 2022 the homeless in the municipality were mostly male (68%), single (67%), aged 45 to 64 (57%), Portuguese (97%). mostly lived or stayed overnight in the parishes of Rio Tinto (36%) and San Pedro da Cova (20%) and had income from social inclusion (57%) as their main source of income, followed by unknown sources (21% ). .
Of these 68%, the majority were homeless (81%), either because they slept in a public place/on the street (17%) or because they lived in non-traditional environments (64%) such as cars, caravans, substandard buildings , conventional or temporary structures, continues the report.
Most of the 151 homeless had been in this situation for one to five years (36%) or less than six months (24%), with the main reason for their condition being lack of family support. (22%), situations of eviction or homelessness (15%), unemployment or precarious work (13%), dependence on alcohol or psychoactive substances (13%), the document describes.
Almost all homeless people (92.5%) believe that they have a support network, mainly related to support from technical specialists from social support institutions/organizations (58.2%), as well as from friends and/or neighbors, whose relationship existed before the situation arose (46.3%). The report also states that 67.2%, regardless of gender, were unemployed.
The diagnostic also states that the existing accommodation arrangements in this municipality in the Porto area are “highly reduced, including the Temporary Housing Centre, with limited responsiveness (only four users) and a 100% occupancy rate”.
The study, funded by the European Social Fund – North 2020, is the result of a partnership between the Chamber of Gondomar, Operation API@GONDOMAR — Welcome, Protect and Include – Homeless Implementation Project and the Portuguese Red Cross – Delegation of Gondomar – Valongo and will be presented on Tuesday, in 15:00, at the Pavilhão Multiusos de Gondomar.
Aware of this reality, the municipality intends to “help improve the efficiency, effectiveness and impact of interventions in this area”.
The methodology used in this diagnosis followed a step-by-step logic using various collection methods and sources of information. The three phases of the work plan were carried out in accordance with identifying the main characteristics of the homeless observed in the municipality, collating existing responses and resources, and collating data to develop resource recommendations. and future intervention strategies, the document states.
“It is important to note, however, that the stage of gathering information from organizations took longer than expected,” due to “difficulties in mobilizing the wide and diverse set of organizations involved.”
The report shows that 63.1% of the homeless come from another municipality, with this figure being more prominent among women.
Women also have the lowest educational qualification: 46% of them are unqualified.
The report also mentions that out of 151 homeless people, 33.4% are unqualified and 59.7% have completed only the 1st or 2nd cycle of basic education.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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