Children and teenagers in wheelchairs live in flats without lifts and must descend hundreds of steps to get onto the street. In the programme “A Prova dos Factos” we revealed the case of a boy with cerebral palsy who lives on the third floor with no lift. After the report aired, Sintra Town Hall decided to give this family a new home.
Hundreds of people with disabilities are trapped in their own homes
Saturday, 10 January 2026RSS
Context & Explainers
Local accommodation (alojamento local) means short-term tourist rentals—private apartments, houses or rooms rented for days or weeks—that must be registered and licensed with municipal authorities. Municipalities can suspend or cancel licences (Lisbon cancelled about 6,700 licences in early 2026), so travellers and hosts should check a listing's registration and local rules before booking or offering stays.
Social housing (habitação social) is housing provided or subsidised by public authorities so low-income households can access affordable rent or ownership. The Madeira government is investing €4.2 million to build 27 social-housing units in Funchal, a local project that increases affordable supply and can reduce waiting lists; those seeking housing should be aware that eligibility normally requires legal residency and income below set thresholds.
