Tavira, VRSA and Lagos will accommodate homeless people in shared apartments

It is an “alternative solution” that allows for “a personalized response”. Tavira, Lagos and Vila Real de Santo António will have, «from the end of December or early 2021», apartments to be shared by homeless people.

This is an answer that arises from a partnership between the Ministry of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security, the Social Security Institute, the Municipal Councils and also the AIDS Problem Support Movement (MAPS) and the Vila Real de Santo Delegation António from the Portuguese Red Cross.

The entities got together this Tuesday, November 24th, at the District Center of Faro of Social Security, to sign the collaboration protocols that will make it possible to move forward with this initiative, in a ceremony attended by the Minister of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security.

Ana Mendes Godinho highlighted the fact that alternative solutions are being “find” for the “integration” of the homeless.

"It is a model that allows, in partnership with local authorities, to find apartments that are shared by these people and that will have multidisciplinary monitoring, by psychologists, social workers to ensure a personalized response to each person with a view to their reintegration", he considered, in statements to journalists.

Margarida Flores, director of the District Center of Faro of Social Security, estimated that the reception of the first homeless happens "at the end of December or at the beginning of January", explaining that the municipalities were the ones to give away the apartments.

"The buildings were released, some were in poor condition, being fixed, painted and it is the municipalities that are taking care of this," he added.

This initiative will be implemented, in Tavira and Lagos, by MAPS, with a project called “TMN (Tua, Minha, Nossa).

In each of the cities 10 people will be welcomed, in a regime of "shared housing", but "with all the conditions also in terms of food and hygiene", explained Fábio Simão, president of MAPS. In the end, “things that we all think are basic” will be given, such as “the comfort of a ceiling, the warmth of a bed and a bath”, he stressed.

Signaling of the homeless will be made by the different Homeless Planning and Intervention Centers (NPISA), with a process that involves the preparation of diagnoses for the candidates.

In Vila Real de Santo António, the Portuguese Red Cross will implement this initiative, with the “Renascer” project. In this city, only five homeless people will be accepted.

And why were these three municipalities chosen? Margarida Flores, director of the District of Faro Social Security, explained to journalists that, “when the competition was opened, not all municipalities still had Homeless Planning and Intervention Centers.

"Now, we are waiting for more progress, like Loulé and Portimão", stressed the official.

It is true that the problem of the homeless tends to increase as an effect of the Covid-19 pandemic, with, on the other hand, a “greater concern centered on this issue”.

The objective is always the same: “to support everyone, without regard to race or creed: only the person”.

Photos: Pedro Lemos | Sul Informação