Latest news and stories about social services in Portugal for expats and residents.
Addressing the urgent need for creative and pragmatic solutions to reduce hospital bed occupancy caused by patients remaining for social rather than medical reasons.
The government has committed to funding victim support services previously reliant on EU aid, following criticism from the Livre party regarding the Prosecutor General's controversial remarks on domestic violence.
APRe! urges the Government and Parliament to prioritize and implement effective solutions to address the critical issue of social hospitalisations.
A Chega activist has been dismissed from her position at Lisbon City Hall's Social Services following investigations into her clandestine rental properties and allegations of unauthorized legal practice. The dismissal comes amid a controversy involving the activist's connections to the Chega party and her role in a split between party councillors. The Public Prosecutor's Office is looking into her activities, which include renting out substandard housing to illegal immigrants.
Lisbon Metro has opened three central stations overnight to provide emergency shelter for people experiencing homelessness amid cold weather. Oriente (Red Line), Rossio (Green Line) and Santa Apolónia (Blue Line) will be accessible from Friday through the early hours of Tuesday at least, a period that the city warns may be extended or shortened depending on ongoing weather assessments. The move — driven by concern from Lisbon City Council — uses transport infrastructure as temporary refuge and highlights the need for coordinated short-term protection and wider services for people sleeping rough during extreme conditions.
The family lives without running water and produces their own electricity and food. Authorities state that the three children lack proper living conditions, but are allowing a 'gradual reunification'.
Andreia Galvão highlighted that the released data demonstrate “significant regional asymmetries”.
Residential care home, home support, and continuing care in a single space. Cerci Flor da Vida inaugurates the complex in Azambuja tomorrow, with funding from the PRR.
Cases involving homelessness, lack of financial autonomy, domestic violence, or displacement and eviction are among the main reasons for calling 144.
Two children were taken to Braga Hospital as a precaution and both are doing well
It was 4:30 am in Braga when a 3-year-old boy was found crying in the street, under the care of his 15-year-old sister. With the mother absent and the family already flagged by social services, where did the State fail?
Carlos Duarte has been named the new social advisor for the Embassy of Portugal in Paris.
In an audio message from August 5th, one week before murdering his mother, the 15-year-old minor told his family he was going to be institutionalised.
The child reported that the mother assaulted and threatened to kill his four-year-old sister. Dismissing the evidence and considering the youth manipulative, the court refused institutionalisation and the return of the children to Brazil under the guardianship of the paternal family, as reported by CM.
The Hospitaller Youth organization carried out a solidarity-based holiday programme involving individuals receiving mental health care.
We are concerned that the Lisbon City Council continues to concentrate certain social services in the same territories. Opinion by Maria João Correia
The District Union of Private Social Solidarity Institutions of Braga (UDIPSS Braga) has warned of the risk that several IPSS may lose funding from the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) due to delays that it claims are not attributable to the institutions.
22 workers may face unemployment and 78 children and 30 elderly people could be left without support, warned the Greater Lisbon Teachers' Union.
The local authority provided temporary accommodation for the elderly woman during the intervention period.
The social institution in Ajuda, which has been supporting children and the elderly for 50 years, fears it will not reopen in September. While the management awaits 'answers', employees have not received their holiday pay.
In the municipalities of Leiria, Ourém and Marinha Grande, the Jerónimo Martins Foundation is currently restoring 22 social response facilities. Five of them are already completed.
Future residents will be selected from a pool of 30 candidates.
Social sector institutions have requested an extension until December for the deadlines of construction projects under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) that cannot be completed by July 31, suggesting a complementary financial solution for these cases.
In an open letter to António José Seguro, institutions recall that these are services in the areas of childhood, disability, continuing care, or home support that communities need.
Social sector institutions have requested an extension until December for projects under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) that cannot be completed by July 31, suggesting a complementary financial solution. In an open letter, they estimate that around 1,000 social support facilities, representing 50,000 places, remain unfinished. The institutions highlight obstacles such as delays in electrical grid installations and call for VAT reimbursement and clearer guidelines to ensure these vital projects for childhood, disability, and elderly care are not abandoned.
Marco Martins stated that the holiday allowance was not paid to at least two institutions. Many of these had to resort to loans or guaranteed accounts.
There are 5,987 children living in institutions, but not all meet the legal requirements to have a new family. Social Security received 800 applications from prospective parents last year.
The ratio of monitors and assistants to people requiring greater support has increased. The Activity and Training Centres for Inclusion will be able to support up to 15 more people.
Between 2019 and 2024, 1,078 Portuguese children were adopted, of which at least 35 were integrated into families living abroad in countries such as Malta, Belgium, France, Brazil, and Italy.
