Six makeshift constructions that were rebuilt over the weekend of August 16 and 17 are under threat of demolition starting Thursday, following the expiration of a 48-hour eviction notice issued by the Loures City Hall, in the Lisbon district.
Kedy Santos of the Movimento Vida Justa stated that residents affected by the demolition have already filed an injunction to halt proceedings.
“The residents, with the assistance of lawyers, have been taking steps to protect and defend themselves, as they have done before when faced with demolition threats,” Santos said.
An official from the Loures City Hall revealed that the municipality has not yet received any notification of decisions from the Lisbon Administrative Court.
A statement issued on Tuesday by the Loures City Hall remarked that the identified six makeshift structures were erected by occupants who had previously built in the same area. One case involves a family that had already received financial aid from the municipality for a deposit and first rental payment.
However, Kedy Santos challenged this assertion, denying its accuracy and affirming that the six families have remained in the neighborhood since the previous demolitions.
“It’s a lie that has been spread. The families rebuilding the shacks are the same ones who have been sleeping in tents since the last demolition on the 30th [July]. None of them received funds from the City Hall,” the activist emphasized.
Santos highlighted that the majority of these families “are single-parent” or have a family member “not currently employed.”
“They find it difficult to secure housing at current market prices. Accepting a rent and deposit under 400 euros, as offered by the City Hall, is impossible for them, as they cannot rent a house within that price range,” he argued.
The activist further noted that only two of the 55 families displaced since the beginning of this demolition process have been supported by Loures City Hall and agreed to relocate to other municipalities.
On July 14, the Loures authority initiated the demolition of 64 makeshift homes, housing 161 people in Talude Militar. Fifty-one houses were demolished on the first day, and another four on the second.
The operation was later suspended following a court injunction in Lisbon, filed by 14 of the residents involved in the process.
