The number of homeless people in Porto is decreasing

A member of the Council for Social Cohesion of the Porto City Council said this Wednesday that the number of homeless people in the municipality is decreasing, citing as the main reasons “careful and close management” as a result of the decentralization of powers.

“I believe we are in the process of downsizing,” councilor responsible for social cohesion Fernando Paulo told Lusa in a statement.

The councilor, while still not having recent data to disclose, added, however, that the findings to date indicate a “downward trend” in the number of people experiencing homelessness.

“We will do a more rigorous assessment at the end of the year, but this is a trend and the data we have points in that direction,” he stressed.

As of December 31, 2022, there were 647 registered homeless people in Porto, which is 83 less than in 2021. The majority of these people (476) lived in social housing, but 171 people were left homeless.

In terms of the downward trend, the adviser believes that “more careful and careful management” of the Social Investment Income (RSI) and Social Assistance and Monitoring Service (SAAS) processes has contributed to the resulting transfer of skills in the social sector. which took place in Porto in April.

“We have succeeded in mitigating and preventing some situations of isolation and poverty,” said Fernando Paulo, highlighting the work also done in the area of ​​prevention.

Despite a possible downward trend in homelessness in Porto, Fernando Paulo stressed the need to “adapt responses and interventions”, especially at the metropolitan level, for drug addicts and people with mental illness.

The use of drugs, alcohol and other substances, unemployment, marital status and mental illness were the main reasons justifying the situation of homelessness.

“We are working and fighting for greater participation in the Porto metropolitan area, because only a truly coordinated network can significantly reduce the number of homeless people,” he says.

In addition to coordination between the municipalities of the Porto metropolitan area, Fernando Paulo emphasized the need to also create a “metropolitan strategy” to respond to the dissolution of the district social security group.

“There is no structure that provides coordination at the county or city level, and there are responses that need to be put in place,” he said, adding that a meeting has already been scheduled between municipalities that have a Homeless Planning and Intervention Center (NPISA). so that this Work can be carried out on a network that is beginning to develop.

In 2022, the majority of homeless people (59.5%) came from municipalities other than Porto.

The strategy for helping the homeless in the municipality of Porto is based on ten areas of intervention, among which the Joaquim Urbano temporary accommodation center, the solidarity restaurant chain, long-term accommodation and the Baixo Limiar residential structure stand out.

Regarding the Baixo Limiar residential complex, which will be located in the former Joaquim Urbano Hospital, the councilor said the municipality is awaiting the green light from the Ministry of Finance to provide the premises.

Funded with approximately €700,000 under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), the response is for five people who are “in reception centers waiting for a home” and the pilot aims to promote “turnover”.

In terms of temporary housing, Porto has 271 beds in temporary accommodation centers and settlements, 78 beds in social accommodation centers and 60 beds in apartment buildings.

“Only Social Security will be able to clarify the number of possible vacancies,” the adviser added.