The economic crisis in Portugal is leaving more and more people homeless, according to Álvaro de Carvalho, the coordinator of the Mental Health National Programme.
During a conference concerning homelessness and mental health problems in Lisbon, Carvalho confirmed that the number of homeless people in Portugal is increasing; this is the case for those who, following economic difficulties, are left without a home and have no means to feed themselves.
The expert talked of this new wave of homeless people who have “no alternative except the streets due to a dramatic economic situation”. He describes these cases as different from the traditional homelessness cases – people who generally have a family and economic support but who choose to live on the streets due to mental health problems.
