“Porto is a wonderful example of what is being done by a local authority” with regards to the work it has been doing with the homeless “, stated Rosário Palma Ramalho, citing Sapo news.

The minister, who was speaking to journalists at the end of a meeting at Porto City Hall and a visit to the Joaquim Urbano Temporary Reception Centre, managed by the municipality, said that “there are several understandings about the best methodology to adopt (to deal with the reality of homelessness) and about the synergies that will be developed”.

“We have to be flexible, we have to be close to the population and this necessarily involves this articulation with the local authorities”, he highlighted.

Rosário Palma Ramalho said that the mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira, requested better coordination in this area and it is, in this sense, that he has “a set of specifications” because “this Government is not interested in developing top-level solutions so that institutions and the various territories have to adapt”.

“Yes, he is interested in developing situations of proximity and, therefore, the specifications that I am taking from here arise from the specific needs of this municipality and from what this municipality has been working on”, said the minister, accompanied by the mayor of Porto.

Speaking to journalists, Rui Moreira said he hopes that “this Government will look at the issue of homelessness, not so much in terms of advertisements, but more in terms of the connection to the territory, because municipalities, (...) can do more”.

“I'm sure that the minister and the Secretary of State, after what they saw here, understand what we are doing, that each municipality also has a slightly different strategy, because the reality is different. We don't have the same reality as Lisbon and we don't have the same reality as Beja. They are completely different realities,” he added.

Rui Moreira also recalled that the municipality intends to create on the site of the former Joaquim Urbano Hospital “a social campus with other features, reinforcing this feature and extending it to others”, namely the creation of a health center.

“There is a part that is foreseen within the scope of the Recovery and Resilience Plan and we have to move forward with that quickly,” he said.

He added: “We will have a set of social housing here and we would like to be able to expand the services we have here. We understand that these things do not depend on the minister or me, but we will not fail to mention this matter and also explain what it is and what our strategy has been with the homeless population and others”.

Part of the facilities of the former Joaquim Urbano Hospital are ceded to the Porto City Council, on a loan basis, by the Santo António University Hospital Centre for the development of a Temporary Reception Centre for 40 homeless people, a Social Emergency Centre for 30 people, a centralised kitchen for the network of municipal solidarity restaurants, workshops and an entertainment and integration team, among other services.

According to the local authority, authorisation to use a block has been awaited from the Ministry of Finance for “more than a year” to open a Low Threshold Residential Structure, financed by the PRR.