Housing Minister Condemns Remarks by Public Housing Agency Chief
Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Miguel Pinto Luz described comments by Benjamim Pereira, president of the Institute for Housing and Urban Rehabilitation (Instituto da Habitação e da Reabilitação Urbana or IHRU), as “unfortunate” and demanded formal clarification. Pereira sparked public controversy on Thursday after questioning whether current society is willing to endure the financial sacrifices past generations made to secure housing. Student and housing groups, including the Lisbon Academic Federation (Federação Académica de Lisboa), also condemned Pereira's statements as insensitive to worsening affordability.
Miguel Pinto Luz is Portugal’s Minister of Infrastructure and Housing and a senior figure in the PSD. His portfolio covers roads, rail (including the Lisbon–Porto high-speed line), airports and housing policy. Before joining the government he was deputy mayor of Cascais.
IHRU is the national Institute for Housing and Urban Rehabilitation (Instituto da Habitação e da Reabilitação Urbana). It manages public housing and urban renewal programmes and runs property offers and application processes — for example the T0–T5 homes listed in Almada, Amadora, Caldas da Rainha, Lisbon, Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia with applications open until 9 February — so residents should check eligibility and how to apply.
