Housing - The crisis for 50 years

The current housing crisis reflects a lack of understanding of its causes and solutions, contrasting sharply with the situation 50 years ago. In 1970, Portugal faced severe housing shortages, with over 120,000 families living in tents and a deficit of 500,000 homes. Despite building more than 40,000 homes annually at that time, the current regulatory environment complicates housing production. The historical context shows that political alignment and determination led to significant improvements in housing availability by the end of the 20th century. Today, however, the crisis is exacerbated by complex regulations, a lack of technical capacity in municipalities, and high construction costs, making it difficult to address the housing needs effectively. Recognizing these constraints and learning from past successes is crucial to avoid further deterioration of the situation.