Coins say it’s ‘shameful’ political attack on homeless people in Lisbon

The Mayor of Lisbon said this Thursday it was “absolutely disgraceful” for the political attack on a “quite normal” cleaning operation next to the homeless’ tents, which was timed to coincide with World Youth Day (WYD).

“We were involved in an operation that is very common in the city, we spoke to the homeless, we cleaned an entire area of ​​the city, and so this cleanup is a cleanup that people are grateful for because the avenue was dirty,” said Carlos Coins (PSD) , referring to the action that unfolded last week on Avenida Almirante Reis.

The Mayor spoke on the sidelines of the signing of a protocol between the Lisbon City Council (CML), Construção Pública (formerly known as Parque Escolar) and the JMJ Foundation — Lisboa 2023 to provide 110 schools and three municipal institutions to receive 41,000 pilgrims, which was celebrated in Francisco Arruda Primary School on Calzada da Tapada in the Lisbon parish of Alcantara.

When asked by reporters about the cleanup campaign for the homeless, which was linked to the Pope’s visit during WYD, the mayor said that it was “a completely politicized attitude towards the work that is being done in Lisbon on the homeless.”

“We invest more than anyone else in what the homeless are: seven million euros. We have solutions to provide houses to these people who have already reached 400 houses, and what we have done and what has been politically attacked is absolutely shameful,” he said.

The mayor stressed that the tents of the homeless continue to stand on Avenida Almirante Reis.

“Obviously we want to give people solutions to go to other places, and these decisions are given by the Lisbon Chamber, this is what we do every day is work with these people,” Carlos Moedas defended.

The chairman of the city executive committee also stated that “it is insulting to attack the brigades from the chamber who work with the homeless, they know these people by their names, who work with them every day, who support them every day, [ao] to say that there was some kind of manipulation to take people out.”

“Go there, there are people there, but I would like people to be in other places and not on the street. For this we work every day,” he explained.

Two weeks ago, BE City Council member Beatriz Gomes Diaz expressed “huge surprise” and asked for information about activities planned for the homeless.

“The homeless cannot be threatened with a ‘purge’. Instead, they need to be supported. To remove this vulnerable population from the streets, by force, is typical of authoritarian politicians who are determined to hide the results of their bad policies from prying eyes. “, – stated in the appeal of BE, addressed to the mayor.

In response to Lusa, Human Rights and Social Rights Adviser Sofia Ataide (CDS-PP) explained that in ongoing support for the homeless, “reception solutions are available in several locations, depending on the specifics of each case. who always offer answers with valences in terms of health, nutrition, psychosocial support and housing, of course, with strict respect for your will regarding the acceptance of these answers.

“Systematically, CML is blamed by opposition forces either because it is acting or because it is not acting. Let it be clear that these allegations will never distract CML from action and intervention, always guided by the protection of the dignity of people in times of greater vulnerability, as well as the well-being of all citizens,” Sophia Ataide defended.