This week, operations conducted in the municipalities of Loures and Amadora resulted in the displacement of dozens of families.
In Loures, 51 of the 64 makeshift structures were demolished in the Bairro do Talude Militar, where 161 people resided. The action was halted on the second day by order of the Administrative Court of Lisbon, following an injunction filed by residents.
In Amadora, the demolition of 22 illegal structures on Estrada Militar da Mina de Água, in the former neighborhood of Santa Filomena, affected approximately 44 people, including 14 children and young people.
“As if that were not enough, we now have Municipalities in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area imposing the law of the strongest on fragile and vulnerable populations living in shanties, without first ensuring a housing solution, as required by law,” the Association for the Right to Housing (AIL) expressed in a statement.
The association further criticized these actions, describing them as “lacking humanity and bordering on illegality,” and accused the municipalities of violating Article 13 of the Basic Housing Law.
“None of this was ensured by the Municipalities in question, with one even ignoring, disrespecting, and failing to comply with a court order,” it emphasized.
The AIL argued that “the persecution of the poorest and most vulnerable, violence, and destruction are not solutions to the severe housing and social problems. These actions are condemnable. A deposit and rent are also not solutions. They are an indignity,” it underscored.
The association concluded the statement by expressing solidarity with the displaced families and highlighting the urgency of concrete measures to address the housing crisis: “The AIL insists on the consideration of its urgent and priority proposals, as well as those of other stakeholders in the same direction, for solutions to the housing crisis.”
