Faced with this reality, Cáritas do Porto, which provides assistance to thousands of people in the 26 municipalities of Porto, Aveiro and Braga, is struggling to respond to all inquiries. “Revenues have declined or stabilized, and support from the partner network is not enough. It will be necessary to once again call on the people to good will through an additional campaign,” Paulo Gonçalves added in a statement to Renascença. The economic and social situation in the country leaves families in a very difficult position, and many of them are unable to support all monthly expenses.
“Not only has the cost of housing increased significantly, but also the increase in taxes and interest rates has led to the fact that many families were unable to take out housing loans,” says the head of the institution. There are also many requests from immigrants who “arrive in Portugal very vulnerable.”