Government blames ‘lack of managers’ for completed social housing left vacant for nearly two years

Portugal’s government has acknowledged that additional publicly funded social housing units remain unoccupied – but says the delay is due to the absence of organisations to manage them, rejecting accusations that ministers are deliberately withholding homes for political reasons.

The dispute follows claims by José Luís Carneiro, secretary-general of the Socialist Party, who alleged this week that the government was leaving completed homes empty while waiting for “a new electoral cycle”.

Carneiro visited a group of 10 completed homes in Azinheira dos Barros, in the municipality of Grândola, yesterday, highlighting the fact that they have been ready for occupation for two years after being financed through Portugal’s PRR (Plan for Recovery and Resilience Plan) under the previous Socialist administration.

Speaking to Lusa news agency today, Secretary of State for Social Action and Inclusion Clara Marques Mendes dismissed the allegations as “completely unfounded”.

“The accusation that there are homes ready for occupation that the government has failed to hand over for more than a year is completely without foundation,” she said.

Marques Mendes explained that the properties form part of the National Emergency and Temporary Accommodation Programme (BNAUT) and are intended for highly vulnerable people, including victims of domestic violence.

Although the buildings have been completed, she said they cannot receive residents until a qualified social welfare organisation is appointed to operate them.

“These are homes with a very specific purpose, namely to support victims of domestic violence,” she said, adding that there is currently no Private Institution of Social Solidarity (IPSS) available to manage the Grândola properties.

According to the secretary of state, responsibility for identifying a suitable managing organisation lies with the local authority. She added the Institute for Social Security has been working with the Setúbal district office and the parish council of Azinheira dos Barros in an effort to find a solution, but no agreement has yet been reached.

Marques Mendes acknowledged that similar situations exist elsewhere in Portugal but said the number of affected properties changes frequently and she could not provide an exact figure.

Insisting that all relevant authorities are working to identify organisations willing to operate the facilities, the secretary of state said efforts were progressing in the right direction.

She also criticised Carneiro’s visit to the Grândola development, describing it as “manifestly imprudent”. Because the homes are intended in part for victims of domestic violence, Marques Mendes argued that their locations should not be publicly disclosed for security reasons.

Referring back to the comments to the socialist leader yesterday by Azinheira dos Barros parish council leader, Pedro Ruas, it looks as if wires may have been crossed – and crucial time wasted due to different entities believing others should be taking the initiative.

Source material: Lusa/ noticiasaominuto

Natasha Donn

Journalist for the Portugal Resident.