The data is contained in the latest report from the Homeless Planning and Intervention Centre (NPISA), which refers to 31 December 2024, sent by Lisbon city council to Lusa.
At the end of 2023, the number of homeless people in the city – including citizens who had no roof over their heads (sleeping on the streets) and those who had no home (sleeping in temporary accommodation) – stood at 3,378.
During a visit to the Municipal Unit for Employment and Autonomy of Homeless People in Marvila, in eastern Lisbon, the mayor, Carlos Moedas, told journalists this morning that “the number of people without a roof over their heads has fallen from 548 to 439, representing a decrease of 20%”.
“These are good figures, but obviously they are not enough. I am not yet satisfied; no one can feel satisfied when there are still people in this situation,” he stressed.
The Social Democrat indicated at the time an approximate number of homeless people at the end of 2024 – 3,117, which would represent a reduction of 7.7% – but an official source from the city council has since confirmed to Lusa that the correct figure is that contained in the NPISA report.
Carlos Moedas said that the situation has now returned “to pre-pandemic levels”, stressing that this reflects the plan implemented in the city, which involved “removing tents and providing shelter for many people who did not have it”.
The mayor again listed the 312 tents removed from the city of Lisbon in the last year, stressing, above all, that, more than just removing the tents, they managed to “find a solution for people to stay in a boarding house, or a hostel, or a shelter”.
“We talked a lot about the Church of the Angels [in the Arroios district], where more than 100 tents were removed at the time around the church, but there were more than 300 in the city as a whole. This is the work of a team we have put together, a team that works on a daily basis,” he said.
Carlos Moedas highlighted the implementation of the Municipal Plan for Homeless People, which provides for an investment of €70 million over seven years, between 2024 and 2030, noting the increase in shelter places from 800 when he arrived four years ago to 1,200.
The mayor also praised the work done by the Crescer Association, which manages the Municipal Unit for Employment and Autonomy for Homeless People in Marvila and which “helps prevent people from falling into” the problem of homelessness.
“These are centres that were set up with associations so that people do not reach the point of homelessness, because when they do, they usually end up taking much longer [to get out], that is, recovery is much slower,” he explained.
According to the mayor, of the people received at the unit, “70% now have a solution, that is, they came here, managed to become autonomous, managed to build a network of people here who help and support each other”.
The Municipal Prevention and Autonomy Unit operates 24 hours a day and has capacity for 15 people, providing not only basic food, hygiene and laundry services, but also psychosocial support. It can be attended for six months while a housing solution is sought.
“It is work that is done not only to welcome people and find a solution, but also professional work to help with the social aspect, habits, and the ability to turn around situations that are so difficult for these people,” he stressed.
Carlos Moedas declined to comment on the issue of homeless people who were spending the night at Oriente Station and who are no longer there, as well as recent reports of homeless people using hospital accident and emergency departments to find shelter for the night, stressing that he did not have any figures on what was happening and that he would look into it.
Platform with Lusa
