Municipality of Câmara de Lobos Wins Social Action Excellence Award
Câmara de Lobos has been awarded the Prémio Excelência Autárquica in Social Action by the organization Cidade Social. This recognition comes in light of the municipality's efforts to rehouse 114 residents of Fajã das Galinhas, who were displaced by last month’s devastating fires.
A Collective Effort to Overcome Unprecedented Challenges
“This award acknowledges the collective effort of our team, our institutional partners, and the people of Câmara de Lobos,” stated Sónia Pereira, Councilor for Education, Social Intervention, and Youth. Pereira emphasized the unprecedented nature of the operation, which not only tested the municipality’s crisis response capabilities but also highlighted its commitment to ensuring safety and dignity for the affected families. The residents were forced to leave their homes due to the risk of landslides triggered by the wildfires.
Swift Rehousing with Vacant Property Program
As of this week, 81 people have been rehoused, with the remaining 35 to be relocated as more properties become available. The municipality partnered with public and private entities to create a "vacant property pool," allowing for a quick and efficient rehousing process. “This model provided the affected families with improved safety and autonomy,” the municipality noted.
Community Support and Long-Term Strategy
A network of 39 organizations, both public and private, joined forces to support the rehousing effort.
23 properties were raised, of which 11 belong to the public sector and 12 to the private sector, with some of these being provided free of charge by individuals, "a gesture that the municipality deeply appreciates".
Sónia Pereira, according to Diário de Notícias da Madeira
Future Sustainability and Ongoing Support
The municipality is working on a long-term plan to secure sustainable housing for the displaced families. This includes applying for funding through the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) to support the project and the construction of new homes. These efforts aim to provide a stable future for those affected by the fires, ensuring that their needs are met beyond the immediate crisis.
Source: Diário de Notícias da Madeira
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