EU Cash Spurs New Battle Against Homelessness in Rural Alentejo

Foreigners settling in the rolling plains of Alentejo quickly discover a region of striking contrasts. Vineyards, cork oak forests and Roman towns share the map with pockets of extreme deprivation. A new public call for projects now puts €1.1 M on the table to tackle one of those contradictions: the rising number of people sleeping rough. Local charities, town halls and even international NGOs are invited to compete for funds that promise to turn bold ideas into concrete help—and that could give newcomers to Portugal a fresh opportunity to volunteer or partner.

A funding window backed by Brussels and Évora

The call—officially named Apoio a Pessoas em Situação de Sem-Abrigo—is the first major social tender launched under the Alentejo 2030 regional programme. Eighty-five percent of its budget flows from the European Social Fund, signalling Brussels’ commitment to cohesion in one of Portugal’s least-populated regions. Applications opened on 30 June and will close at 18:00 on 30 October. Winning proposals must demonstrate “innovative local approaches”, align with both national and EU policy, and be ready to start work in the first quarter of next year.

Why homeless numbers keep climbing in the plains

Official surveys counted 2 397 people without a stable home in Alentejo in 2023—nearly double the figure recorded five years earlier. Beja and Moura, hubs for seasonal farm labour, top the list with 597 and 559 cases respectively, while heritage-rich Évora reported 80 active files this spring and expects another uptick by winter. Researchers blame a cocktail of factors: a tight rental market amplified by tourism, the end of short-term agricultural contracts that attract migrants, and energy poverty—29.8 % of households told the statistics office they cannot afford adequate heating.

National strategy 2025-2030: Housing First and hard lessons

Lisbon approved a new ENIPSSA framework last December after admitting that the previous plan “did not halt the increase in homelessness.” The reboot doubles down on multidisciplinary case management, scales the Housing First model beyond the big cities and orders real-time monitoring of results. For expats familiar with North American or Nordic welfare systems, it is a sign that Portugal is moving toward evidence-based interventions—though critics note that earlier ESF-funded teams were never properly evaluated.

What projects could look like on the ground

Bidders are encouraged to form roving teams of social workers and psychologists able to follow each person from the street to a job contract. Proposals may include temporary shelters, pop-up health clinics, or skills workshops in vacant municipal buildings. Communication drives to reduce stigma—often a barrier to landlords renting to former rough sleepers—are also eligible. Veteran institutions such as Comunidade Vida e Paz and the local branch of the Red Cross have hinted at consortium bids, but the tender is equally open to smaller IPSS, faith groups or foreign NGOs hoping to pilot an idea in the Iberian peninsula.

How newcomers can plug in or apply

Non-profit entities must submit dossiers via the Balção 2020 online portal; a Portuguese tax number and a partner with operations in Alentejo are compulsory. The regional development commission’s help-desk (gab.com@ccdr-a.gov.pt) provides English-language guidance. Foreign residents who are not part of an organisation can still play a role by volunteering, donating professional skills or introducing best practices from their home countries. With decisions expected in early December, the next few months offer a rare chance to shape how Europe’s least-dense region confronts its most visible social wound.