Recount registers least 37 homeless on the streets of Lisbon – Digital Journal

The number of homeless flagged in Lisbon decreased to 816, compared to 853 recorded in late 2013, revealed today the Santa Casa da Misericordia de Lisboa (SCML).
 

“The structures for the homeless in Lisbon are to have any effect,” admitted the manager of the Social Action SCML, Rita Valadas despite stress the need for further analysis about the movements of homelessness among the various areas of the city.

According to the recount, they have been flagged 440 homeless on the street (in 2013 were 510) and 376 in reception centers (343) , the SCML said.

The institution promoted, between 21:00 and 24:00 on Thursday, a recount of the homeless in the 24 parishes of Lisbon, involving about 1,200 volunteers to update the data obtained in December 2013.

“There is a more focused attention on the street,” he acknowledged Rita Valadas, adding that in recent years the institutions have managed to remove the street some people, though still it is early to ensure that these situations will keep.

For now, the recount confirmed a reduction in Santa Maria Maior, which covers downtown, where there was a reduction of 83 homeless in 2013, to 20 on Thursday night.

A decrease the administrator of SCML assigns “tourism” and consequent animation, leading to a shift to other areas where the homeless can assemble the beds earlier or a later occupation of the overnight sites.

In the Nations Park also decreased, from 83 to 56, while in Benfica was a rise from six to 15 as well as in São Vicente, from 21 to 37, and Beato, from seven to 19.

The first count, held on December 12, 2013, involved about 800 volunteers, and the recount had the collaboration of parish councils and associations working with the homeless population.

The recount was scheduled for later this year in order to evaluate the evolving situation of the homeless in Lisbon, but was accelerated due to weather, since this month is more “soft” and out of the winter and summer peak times when this population is more volatile and volatile.

recount aims to assess the number, type and possible changes in the homeless population of the capital, and Rita Valadas predicts that in the coming weeks you can withdraw more consolidated findings on the numbers now registered.

Digital Diary with Lusa