Homeless support plan activated in Lisbon due to the cold weather
The mayor of Lisbon, Carlos Moedas, launched on Tuesday night the city contingency plan due to low temperatures in the Manuel Castel Branco Municipal Pavilion, where the Integrated Support Device for Homeless People (DIAPSSA) will operate.
“We are launching our contingency plan due to the temperatures we are experiencing to help people who are experiencing this cold. We have already felt 20 people today and until Sunday we will be here to receive these people with meals”forward, remembering that space has capacity for 50 people.
The mayor spoke to journalists after a visit to the Manuel Castel Branco Municipal Pavilion, in Lisbon, which will function as an adapted structure from this Tuesday for the start of the contingency plan for people in Homeless Situation in the face of the cold weather that registers.
“There are people who stay here to sleep, others not, we are going to find solutions, especially to help people in a difficult moment. Then the city of Lisbon has to invest a lot, and it has invested, in definitive solutions for homeless people. No one will be homeless.” monitored.
“We saw people here who are unable to pay their rent. It is one of the main priorities of our city so that people can live with decent housing. We are working hard in this direction”, he added.
Lisbon activated a contingency plan that includes the opening of support locations and distribution of meals
The Lisbon Chamber activated on Tuesday at 18:00 the contingency plan to protect the homeless from the cold, prevent the opening of support places and distribution of food and clothing, announced this Tuesday the municipality.
“In view of the forecasts of the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA), which point to a cold wave with a sharp drop in temperature values in the coming days, the Lisbon City Council triggers, at 18:00 on the 24th of January , the Contingency Plan for people in a homeless situation in the face of cold weather, which is scheduled to last until January 29”, indicated, in a statement, the Lisbon municipality.
The note noted that this plan provides for the creation of seven points of concentration and availability of the Manuel Castel Branco Municipal Pavilion, where the Integrated Support Device for Homeless People (DIAPSSA) will operate, and hot meals, food and warm clothes will be served.
You concentration points located in Rossio (Praça Dom Pedro IV), Intendente (entrance to the metro station/Sapataria Guimarães), Saldanha (entrance to the metro station next to Novo Banco), Gare do Oriente (main entrance), Santa Apolónia (main atrium of the station) , Cais do Sodré (entrance to the river station) and Alcântara (in front of Pingo Doce).
During the term of the plan, as subway stationsRossio, Santa Apolónia and Oriente will also remain open to the homeless population from 23:00 to 06:30.