Report Investigates Resurgence of Shantytowns in Greater Lisbon
A recent multimedia report by the Portuguese newspaper PÚBLICO has brought renewed attention to the persistent issue of precarious housing in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area. The report, titled "Shacks in Lisbon: a problem that never disappeared," examines the growth of shantytowns, or 'barracas,' in the shadow of a booming real estate market, and questions the effectiveness of current housing policies.
The issue was thrust into the national spotlight in July following the demolition of more than 50 illegally built homes in the Talude Militar neighborhood in Amadora, an event that led to the displacement of numerous residents. This action highlighted the gap left by the Special Relocation Program (PER), a large-scale government initiative from the 1990s that was intended to eradicate such informal settlements. The report suggests that the program created a false sense of resolution, as the problem has re-emerged forcefully in recent years.
Journalist Teresa Serafim, the author of the report, visited seven different shantytown neighborhoods in Greater Lisbon for her investigation. She notes a significant disconnect between the public housing supply and the realities of the current market. "The truth is that between the PER, a program from the 90s, and the present day, the public housing supply has decreased, in contrast to a vibrant and ever-growing real estate market," the report states.
The primary driver for the multiplication of these settlements is identified as the relentless increase in rental prices, which have been described as "unstoppable since covid-19." This economic pressure has forced many individuals and families unable to access the formal housing market to construct their own precarious dwellings, often lacking basic services such as legal electricity, water, and sanitation.
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In a podcast discussing her findings, Serafim elaborated on the situation. "The country woke up to the housing crisis... when the bulldozers demolished those houses," she said, framing the event as a moment of realization for the public and policymakers. Her work seeks to answer the central question of what is currently being done by authorities to solve this complex social and urban problem.
The existence and growth of these 'barracas' point to a deepening housing crisis in one of Europe's most popular capital cities. The PÚBLICO report serves as a critical analysis of the social consequences of a high-demand, high-price real estate market and the apparent inadequacy of the public sector's response to the housing needs of its most vulnerable populations.
The investigation underscores the challenges faced by municipal governments in the Lisbon area as they grapple with the social and urban planning implications of these informal communities. The report concludes by posing the unresolved question of what concrete actions are being taken to provide sustainable and dignified housing solutions for the residents of these growing shantytowns.
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