Políticas públicas de intervenção social e urbanística em contextos habitacionais municipais

Abstract

This research aimed to understand and analyse the itinerary of social housing policies in Portugal and the social and urban intervention initiatives that municipalities in Portugal are currently adopting as a response to the urban, social, and ethnic issues that have led to the social disqualification of these habitats. As analytical references, the study was inspired by theories of human needs and conceptions of the right to housing. Considering methodological design, within the scope of mapping social and urban intervention initiatives and programmes in the context of municipal social housing in Portugal, documentary research was adopted using institutional information from the 278 municipalities on the mainland. Regarding the study of initiatives, a theoretical sample combined with convenience sampling was adopted, and the method used to gather information was interviews with directors, managers and professionals from municipalities and associations of the partnership network, as privileged informants. The results identified a set of measures adopted by the municipalities in response to the issues and challenges affecting these habitats, namely: improving housing standards and implementing conservation measures for housing and communal spaces; upgrading outdoor spaces and urban facilities; improving the architectural and aesthetic image of the habitats and their relationship with the surrounding area; creating permanent structures for the participation of residents; creating different arrangements for neighbourhood management; involvement of residents in the social administration of the housing and the neighbourhood; personal and social development of residents and promotion of socio-educational activities among the population (children and young people, the elderly, the unemployed); promotion of intercultural dialogue and coexistence and partnership work in integrated and participatory development processes. Due to the sample nature and non-evaluative character of the study, it was not possible to analyse the impact of these public policy measures on the response to the structural characteristics of these neighbourhoods, without prejudice to their purpose of improving the quality of life of these communities and correcting the social inequalities that mark the life of these habitats.

Date of Award	30 Apr 2024
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa University of Coimbra
Supervisor	Francisco Branco (Supervisor)