Housing Crisis: IHRU Faces Protests Over Delays in Rent Support in Lisbon and Porto
The Institute for Housing and Urban Rehabilitation (IHRU) is under intense scrutiny due to significant delays in granting rent support, leading dozens of people to protest in front of its facilities in Lisbon. The \"\"Porta-a-Porta\"\" movement organized a demonstration this Monday, demanding an effective response to support requests and denouncing the inaccessibility of services.
The situation is critical, with only 20 daily tickets available for in-person service in Lisbon and Porto, while online and telephone channels are described as \"\"impossible\"\" to access. André Escoval, spokesman for the \"\"Porta-a-Porta\"\" movement, stressed that the problems extend \"\"from north to south of the country,\"\" with cuts in rent support and the Porta 65 program, resulting in delays of \"\"more than a year\"\" that are driving \"\"several families to desperation.\"\"
The accounts of citizens in line illustrate the severity of the crisis. Maria Santos Godinho, a 59-year-old caregiver for the elderly from Odivelas, arrived at 4:45 am to help a friend who lost electricity due to humidity problems. \"\"This is worse than going to the doctor. We have to come here to sleep. They don't answer emails, they don't answer phones. You have to come here and you have to put your foot down. Otherwise, they send us away without solving anything,\"\" she criticized. Raquel Djaló, 32, a single mother from Amadora, expressed her outrage after her rent support was suspended without justification. \"\"There have to be more tickets. We leave work to come here. I had to leave my daughter with other people to be here at 6 am,\"\" she stated.
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The president of IHRU, António Costa Pereira, acknowledged the \"\"very serious\"\" situation on October 14, during a hearing in the Assembly of the Republic, admitting the delay in responding to the nearly 60,000 beneficiaries of the Extraordinary Rent Support Program (PAER) who are awaiting resolution. This admission underscores the scale of the problem and the urgent need for corrective measures.
The crisis in rent support and the ineffectiveness of IHRU's services have direct implications for the social and economic stability of Portuguese families, affecting their ability to access and maintain housing. The situation reflects the structural challenges of the rental market and the pressure on public housing policies.
For an in-depth analysis of housing policies in Portugal, consult our section on Regulation and Legal Frameworks. To understand how these issues may influence the real estate market in general, visit our Market Analyses. If you need professional support to navigate the Portuguese real estate market, our English-Speaking Real Estate Agents are available to help you.