Summary:
Over 900 children are currently under care in Lisbon, up from 648 last year.
47% increase in children receiving support reported in just one year.
Poverty and housing crisis are major factors contributing to the rise in street children.
Many minors are unsupervised for long hours, often from single-parent households.
Over 900 children and young people are currently receiving support from the Child Support Institute (IAC) in the metropolitan area of Lisbon. This marks a significant increase from the 648 minors reported in 2023, representing a 47% rise in just one year.
According to the report by Público, based on data from the Rua Project, the number of children found on the streets and receiving assistance has been steadily increasing since 2022. The report highlights that many of these minors are at risk due to circumstances such as running away from home or institutions, and spending long hours unsupervised.
Matilde Sirgado, coordinator of the Rua Project, stated that the rise in children needing support is largely due to poverty and the housing crisis. Many of these children belong to single-parent families, where one parent leaves early in the morning and returns late at night, leaving the children without supervision.
The IAC continues to work closely with these vulnerable groups to provide necessary support and intervention as the situation escalates in the region.
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