Portimão welcomes immigrants of 68 different nationalities, who live and work in the municipality, and yesterday it took another step in the inclusion of these people, with the opening of the Local Support Center for the Integration of Migrants (CLAIM), the first of its kind inaugurated throughout the country.
In a ceremony attended by two Secretaries of State, the Secretary for Citizenship and Equality, Catarina Marcelino, and the Secretary for Local Authorities, Carlos Miguel, a cooperation protocol was formally signed between the High Commission for Migration and the Municipality of Portimão which establishes the terms of this partnership with a view to greater proximity and better local integration of migrants.
For the Mayor Isilda Gomes, «CLAIM reinforces the Municipal Plan for Migration Integration that the municipality implemented in 2015, work that has been developed in partnership with all entities, in order to have a more participative, planned and inclusive".
The CLAIM – Local Support Center for the Integration of Migrants of Portimão is the first to open in the country with this nomenclature, which changed the name CLAII (Local Support Center for the Integration of Immigrants), becoming part of the current national network CLAIM by 58 offices distributed from north to south of the country and islands.
The change in the nomenclature is linked to the need to adapt to the new migratory reality we are witnessing, in which refugees "also become part of public policy," said the secretary of state.
“Solidly, our doors are open and we want to help Europe to overcome this scourge”, since “the CLAIM focuses on a positive spirit of welcoming people who come from countries with cultures and social organizations very different from ours. a great challenge for all of us», added Catherine Marcellin.
CLAIM Portimão operates in the Paços do Concelho building, in an office prepared for the purpose, located on the ground floor of the Paços do Concelho building (entrance through Rua do Pé da Cruz), where personalized service will be provided by technicians. of the municipality's social and housing area, every morning, except Tuesday, by appointment
As a decentralized information space, the CLAIM structure's mission is to provide migrant citizens with local responses articulated in terms of reception and integration needs and help to respond to their needs in different areas, such as regularization of the migratory situation, nationality, Family Reunification, Housing, Work, Social Security, Voluntary Return, Health, Education, Professional Training, Entrepreneurship and Support for Associations, among others.
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