Lisbon: solidarity and housing
By Rui Paulo Figueiredo, President of the Urban Planning Commission of the Municipal Assembly of Lisbon
On a global scale, how much attention has been focused on the effects of the damnable invasion of Ukraine. The world, in general, has opted for peace, security and solidarity as opposed to war, instability and selfish selfishness.
It will be a war with consequences for our lives and hard for the Ukrainians. A struggle in which our solidarity must be unshakable. Hence my pride in the exceptional solidarity action that has been developed by the Parishes, the City Council and the institutions of the city. Lisbon has been at the forefront of solidarity support for Ukrainians. And, I’m sure, as well.
In addition to this solidarity agenda, the theme of housing in the city has taken on a centrality that is materialized, recently, in the convening of the Municipal Housing Council. In particular, there are some problems that can be quickly resolved, it is an unnoticed one that must be transversal to everyone.
The City Council has assumed, for 2022, to prepare the Municipal Housing Charter, via the Municipal Housing Council, in a system of co-creation of the public. Nothing against and everything in favor! The municipal charter will determine the strategies for public and private heritage. And that, in the medium and long term, will be positive.
But 2022 can’t stay, just and alone, for that. We have to move quickly in other areas. First of all, because we have 48 thousand vacant fires. In the private housing stock, but also in the public. And there, Lisbon can’t stop! People can’t wait!
The municipal park is vast. And, according to the Chamber, there are about 2000 vacant homes. It is urgent to make these fires available and they will be used within 12 months. Maximum of 18 months. It will make a difference.
To this end, and with a view to quick and efficient options, defend that:
• Regarding Gebalis, a program must be launched by the company to identify in detail the conditions of each fire in order to then designate what allows the execution of the works that they need; and,
• Not that the City Council the inheritance must delegate in the Parishes the competence and financial for the immediate accomplishment of the works of the Council, to its accomplishment in the Parishes.
We will also have, with regard to the transversality of the policies to be adopted, of:
• Create incentives to invite private owners of vacant or vacant homes to place them on the market;
• Continuing the Affordable Income program, revitalizing the cooperative sector, regulating local accommodation and mitigating informality in renting;
• Delegate to Parishes the carrying out of small works in dispersed dwellings;
• Debureaucratize the urban planning of the CML and have the figure of the project and process manager;
• Having a new payment of payment of expenses on an occupation and fair application of payment of payment fees or illegal occupation for late payment of payments or illegal occupation; and
• End the conditioning of municipal housing inheritance.
Having more and better public and private offers on the market is the best way to allow people access to decent and affordable housing. Having clear policies and rules and celebrated enforcement of Policies is the way forward.