AM Lisbon calls on the Government to respond to housing overcrowding

“ Lisboa faces today a social reality that cannot continue to be ignored: thousands of people live in situations of housing overcrowding, in conditions that compromise human dignity, security, public health and the very social cohesion of the city ", read in the motion of the CDS-PP, presented by the deputy Francisco Camacho.

Considering that overcrowding is a consequence of the scarcity of affordable housing, the CDS-PP stated that “it is not admissible that, in the 21st century, housing fractions and commercial spaces are converted into clandestine dormitories”, where dozens of people share areas that are scarce, without conditions of safety and health, and that “it remains unclear as to the competent authority to supervise, intervene and hold accountable”.

“Lisbon requires clear rules, defined responsibility and effective action. What is at stake is not only housing policy, but the dignity of the people and the authority of the State”, the CDS-PP said, in the motion for a response to housing overcrowding.

The motion was voted by points, having been approved, with the votes against IL, Livre and PAN, the abstention of PS, BE, PCP and ENP, and the votes in favour of PSD, CDS-PP and Enough, appeal to the Government to proceed to the legal definition of the concept of housing overcrowding, establishing objective criteria for occupation of housing according to its typology, useful area and conditions of use.

Other points made possible, with the votes against Free and PAN, are asking the Government to clarify the division of competences between municipalities, Institute of Housing and Urban Rehabilitation (IHRU), health authorities, civil protection, security forces and other public entities with intervention in this matter, and to densify the legal regime applicable to situations of abuse of lease and successive sub-rentage.

MEPs also decided to call on the Government to strengthen the legal instruments made available to municipalities to ensure the restoration of urban legality and security, health and habitability conditions, and to call for the assessment of the impact of the transfer of competences under the More Housing Programme.

The motion also includes requesting the promotion of permanent mechanisms of articulation between municipalities, IHRU, Working Conditions Authority, Tax Authority, health authorities, civil protection and security forces “to standardise surveillance and intervention procedures”, reinforcing the need to ensure that supervision actions are accompanied by social and housing responses, suitable for people in vulnerable situations, “clearly distinguishing these situations from illegal economic exploitation practices, criminally taking place”.