The evictions that have taken place in the Bairro de Santa Maria and Bairro do Menino de Deus in Pontinha, Odivelas (Lisbon district) concern properties belonging to the Institute for Housing and Urban Rehabilitation (IHRU).
These evictions were reported about a week ago by the Vida Justa movement, which accused the Odivelas City Council and the IHRU of conducting evictions without providing housing alternatives.
When contacted, the IHRU stated that “four eviction procedures were executed” in Bairro de Santa Maria and one in Bairro do Menino de Deus due to “illegal occupations.”
“In the specific case, the occupants were notified of the judicial decision to return the property to the IHRU and were given a 30-day period to comply. This entire process was conducted with the knowledge and collaboration of the Odivelas City Council, including its Social Emergency Services, which ensured the rehousing of one of the families at significant social risk,” the statement continued.
The institute further noted that after these evictions, three of the four families returned to “occupy” the residences, committing a crime of disobedience.
“It should be noted that these four residences are part of a building scheduled for demolition for several years, awaiting complete evacuation due to structural risks and its location in a Flood Hazard Zone, as defined in the Municipal Director Plan (PDM) of Odivelas,” the IHRU added.
According to the institute, the residences “are located at the confluence of two water lines and built with self-supporting masonry with wooden roof structures, significantly increasing risk in extreme weather events.”
Regarding the eviction in Bairro do Menino de Deus, the IHRU explained it was also an illegal evacuation, ensuring that all “welfare entities” were involved.
“It is important to mention that after the commencement of the property’s rehabilitation works, the same occupant reoccupied the property, committing a qualified disobedience crime under Article 375 of the Civil Procedure Code. In this case, it is a situation of chronic recurrence, as similar judicial procedures have been previously registered for the same property and occupant,” it justified.
In recent days, several municipal councils in the Lisbon district have conducted demolitions and evacuations in various neighborhoods, prompting Vida Justa to issue an open letter titled “Stop the Evictions and Solve the Housing Situation,” which garnered two thousand signatures in less than 24 hours.
