A demonstration is being organized for 7 p.m. outside the Council of Ministers headquarters to protest the demolition of homes, evictions, and alleged falsehoods.
The movement, which plans to deliver the open letter “Stop the Evictions and Solve the Housing Situation” signed by over 3,200 individuals and around 150 supporting organizations, demands “real solutions” to the housing crisis.
“The government and municipalities do nothing to resolve the housing issue due to real estate speculation, excessive tourism, and lack of public housing construction,” the movement declares in its statement.
Specifically, the movement seeks solutions for “over 90 homeless families and more than 60 children living on the streets” in neighborhoods such as Talude Militar in Loures and Estrada Militar da Mina de Água in Amadora, where authorities recently ordered the demolition of makeshift structures.
Vida Justa reports “23 shantytowns in Greater Lisbon” and notes “more and more working families cannot rent even a house or a room.”
Addressing the municipalities of Loures and Amadora directly, the movement criticizes, “the only action they take is criminalizing the working population and placing the blame on them for a criminal policy.”
Vida Justa accuses both the government and municipalities of inaction and demands “real solutions” to what it considers a “humanitarian catastrophe,” stating it has requested “an urgent meeting” with the Secretary of State for Housing and the Board of the Housing and Urban Rehabilitation Institute (IHRU).
The municipalities of Loures and Amadora, both in the Lisbon district and led by the Socialist Party, conducted demolitions of illegal constructions in mid-July, drawing public criticism.
The Loures municipality began demolishing 64 precarious homes housing 161 people in Talude Militar on July 14th. Within two days, 55 homes were demolished before a Lisbon court ordered a suspension following an injunction by residents.
Similarly, in Amadora, eight out of 22 structures slated for demolition on Estrada Militar da Mina de Água were torn down, with operations halted due to a court injunction from residents.
Vida Justa and local organizations have condemned the municipalities’ actions, accusing them of evicting citizens without alternatives or proper support.
In response, Loures mayor Ricardo Leão (Socialist Party) accused the movement of “harming the people” of Talude by “preventing them from speaking” with municipal officials.
“Vida Justa is manipulating these families,” he claimed, adding that the municipality has been “engaging with all the people” of Talude Militar since March, with the movement also supporting residents through donation campaigns.
Vida Justa accused the mayor of “lying” and attempting to “discredit” the residents’ voices.
