Experts Declare Portugal's Housing a National Emergency, Citing Policy Failures
A growing chorus of sociologists and urban planning experts has declared that housing in Portugal must be treated as a national priority, asserting that current policies are failing to address the deepening crisis. In a series of interviews with Lusa, specialists pointed to a lack of political focus and the absence of an autonomous housing ministry as critical weaknesses in the government's strategy. Sandra Marques Pereira, a researcher at Dinâmia'cet-ISCTE, stated that despite some efforts, “housing policy still lacks the centrality it should have given the severity of the situation,” predicting that the construction of precarious housing will persist without a significant change in approach. The government's current stance is seen as a continuation of previous policy shortcomings, indicating a systemic challenge that requires a robust, high-level response.
The call for urgent action was reinforced by Isabel Santana, former head of Lisbon's municipal housing division, who advocated for the creation of a “national housing emergency plan.” Santana, who was involved in the Special Relocation Program (PER) in the 1990s, warned that Portugal is at risk of seeing a return to the widespread illegal settlements of that era unless “large-scale construction” and effective “coordination between the central administration and local government” are implemented. She noted that while municipalities are active, their measures often serve as mere “quick fixes” against a problem of immense scale. The policy objective, according to these experts, must be a permanent, well-structured program that learns from the mistakes of the past, such as the poor construction quality and socio-spatial segregation that marred parts of the PER.
The current housing crisis has a broad impact, affecting a wide demographic beyond the traditionally vulnerable. The experts highlighted that the issue is no longer confined to low-income households. Elderly citizens are facing “real estate bullying” linked to the expansion of short-term rentals, while young, highly-qualified graduates are unable to enter the housing market in cities like Lisbon without parental support. This situation points to a systemic failure that current policies do not adequately address. The analysis provided by the specialists suggests that the government's policy framework has not kept pace with the evolving nature of the housing shortage, which now encompasses issues of affordability for the middle class and security for long-term residents.
The social and economic consequences of the policy vacuum are becoming increasingly visible. Recent demolitions in Loures, which left residents without shelter, were cited as an example of the unacceptable human cost of inaction. Furthermore, Sandra Marques Pereira pointed to the rise of severe overcrowding and the rental of beds at inflated prices as symptoms of a crisis to which “the Government remains completely silent.” The consensus is that a comprehensive, long-term strategy is needed, moving beyond reactive measures to establish a stable and accessible housing market. The implementation of such a policy is considered essential for Portugal's social cohesion and economic health, requiring a level of political will and coordination that experts say has been absent.
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