Parish of Barcelos rejects giving land to the Chamber for social housing

The parish assembly of Vilar do Monte and Tamel Santa Leocádia, in Barcelos, unanimously rejected, on Thursday night, the transfer of land to the Chamber for the construction of social housing.

Chamber “does not make distinctions”126 houses for 14 million

Dozens of residents attended the meeting site who were against the transfer of the land, located in Vilar do Monte, claiming that it was to relocate the gypsy community that lives next to Campo do Andorinhas, in the parish of Arcozelo.

“The proposal was unanimously rejected”, the president of the Board, Manuel Martins, confirmed to O MINHO, adding that, despite the assembly not being public, for “a matter of transparency”, everyone was able to enter.

As for the reasons for the rejection, the mayor, elected by the PSD/CDS/BTF coalition, who also leads the Chamber, explains: “We have to be on the side of the population. We can’t approve something that people are against.”

However, Manuel Martins reiterates that the Chamber’s proposal only states that it falls within the scope of the 1st Right program, but that there was an “inflation” of the situation, which generated among the people of the parish the conviction that it would be to relocate ethnic citizens Gipsy.

The parish assembly of Tamel Santa Leocádia and Vilar do Monte has six members from the PSD/CDS/BTF coalition and three from the PS.

Chamber “makes no distinction”

As O MINHO reported on Wednesday, residents who are against the transfer of the land called a demonstration for yesterday, at the time of the assembly.

Against the sale of the land ‘As Preiras Velhos’ for the relocation of gypsy citizens. Join us on Thursday, at 8:00 pm, at the headquarters of the Vilar do Monte Council”, could be read in the protest call to which O MINHO had access and which is signed by “Unidos pela freguesia”.

At the time, when contacted by O MINHO, the mayor spoke of “speculation”. “It’s not for gypsies, no one says it’s for gypsies, what is included is for housing under the 1st Right program, it doesn’t mean they are gypsies”, highlights Manuel Martins.

The Chamber of Barcelos confirmed to O MINHO that “it is in the process of acquiring land to build social housing within the scope of the 1º Direito program, financed by the PRR, and there is the possibility of acquiring the land in Vilar do Monte, awaiting the pronouncement of the Local Authority”. What happened now, with the proposal being rejected.

Asked by O MINHO whether it intended to relocate the gypsy community of Arcozelo, particularly within the scope of the 1st Law program, the municipality responded that it does not make “any distinction” between families applying for this housing support.

“The Chamber identified, within the scope of the provisions of the decree-law, to create a new public support program, the 1st Right – Support Program for Access to Housing, aimed at ensuring access to adequate housing for people living in situations unworthy and who do not have the financial capacity to access, without support, an adequate housing solution, the people and families residing in the municipality who could benefit from the support of this program, without making any distinction”, can be read in the response.

And he concludes: “However, people referenced and eligible for this support only join, naturally, if they express this interest and desire. This is valid for all people without discrimination.”

126 houses for 14 million

As O MINHO reported, Barcelos City Council will invest 14 million euros in 126 houses for families in need.

Inserted within the scope of the 1st Right program financed by the PRR – Recovery and Resilience Plan, the purchase of homes will be made through a public purchase offer.

According to the text of the proposal unanimously approved in January, “access to housing has proven to be one of the most pertinent problems, both due to increases in credit and due to increases in property rents”.

Following the new public housing policies, the Chamber “approved strategic regulatory documents, in order to respond to those difficulties, but also allow access to financial support made available by the government for the implementation of new housing solutions, as is the case with the Program 1st Right and the consequent financing of the PRR – Recovery and Resilience Plan”.-

In this sense, explains the municipality in a statement, with the aim of speeding up the execution of the Collaboration Agreement signed with the IHRU, the Municipality intends to launch the 1st Public Offer for the Acquisition of Properties, which, after approval in the Municipal Assembly, will allow the purchase 126 housing units already built, under construction or to be built, intended to be delivered to beneficiaries who meet the requirements defined within the scope of the 1st Right program.