Child Support Institute demands "decent accommodation"

The Child Support Institute (IAC) appealed this Tuesday to the competent entities to guarantee urgent “decent housing” to people, particularly children, who were left homeless after the demolition in Loures of the shacks where they lived.

"In light of reports of families without immediate housing alternatives, the IAC calls on the relevant authorities to urgently ensure decent housing," reads a statement from the institution.

According to the IAC, "situations involving the forced removal of children and families from their homes, without prior dignified relocation solutions, raise serious questions regarding fundamental rights and the best interests of the child, enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified by Portugal."

The IAC emphasizes that “the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Universal Declaration of the Rights of the Child recognize the right to housing as an essential component for the healthy development and well-being of all children, and it is the duty of the State and local authorities to prevent situations of lack of protection, exclusion or risk”.

“These situations are undignified and directly affect the well-being, safety and development opportunities of these children, which is unacceptable,” the IAC argued, in reference to the demolitions in Loures, noting that “the best interests of the child must always be a priority in any decision or intervention.”

The Loures municipality began demolition operations on Monday of 64 shacks , home to 161 people, in the Talude Militar neighborhood. According to the municipality, 51 buildings were demolished on the first day , and the demolition continued into the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Subsequently, the Loures City Council suspended operations to analyze the Lisbon Administrative Court's ruling, dated Monday night, which declared that the municipality was "prevented from carrying out the demolition" in the Talude Militar neighborhood. The court's decision followed a precautionary measure filed by a lawyer representing 14 residents of the neighborhood.

On Monday, the displaced families spent the night in tents and in a church , according to the Vida Justa movement, which describes itself as "the platform that gives voice to the neighborhoods." This Tuesday, the municipality of Loures, which advised the families to go to social services at the Casa da Cultura in Sacavém and request support, announced that one of the families "was sent to a reception center" and two others "to a hotel."

According to a city source, "housing alternatives were made available in the rental market, with the possibility of financial support for the deposit and the first rent." For the Vida Justa movement, this is a "non-support," as residents will not be able to access the housing market .

The Child Support Institute calls for “a rigorous technical and social assessment” of the cases and “integrated solutions, in conjunction with public services and civil society organizations.”

In Amadora , some illegal buildings were also demolished in the old Santa Filomena neighborhood.