The 600 homeless of Portugal

Published December 27, 2012
Francisco, 52, who has been living on the streets for three years, speaks with a member of the "Comunidade Vida e Paz" organization in Lisbon. ? Reuters Photo
Francisco, 52, who has been living on the streets for three years, speaks with a member of the "Comunidade Vida e Paz" organization in Lisbon. ? Reuters Photo
Alexandro, 48, who has been living on the streets for five years, smokes where he sleeps every night in Lisbon, December 23, 2012.  ? Reuters Photo
Alexandro, 48, who has been living on the streets for five years, smokes where he sleeps every night in Lisbon, December 23, 2012. ? Reuters Photo
Francisco, 52, who has been living on the streets for three years, poses as he speaks with a member of the "Comunidade Vida e Paz" organization in Lisbon. ? Reuters Photo
Francisco, 52, who has been living on the streets for three years, poses as he speaks with a member of the "Comunidade Vida e Paz" organization in Lisbon. ? Reuters Photo
Members of the "Comunidade Vida e Paz" organization speak with a homeless person at Figueira square in Lisbon. ? Reuters Photo
Members of the "Comunidade Vida e Paz" organization speak with a homeless person at Figueira square in Lisbon. ? Reuters Photo
Jorge, 33, who has been living on the streets for three months, plays with his dog as he speaks with a member of the "Comunidade Vida e Paz" organization in Lisbon. ? Reuters Photo
Jorge, 33, who has been living on the streets for three months, plays with his dog as he speaks with a member of the "Comunidade Vida e Paz" organization in Lisbon. ? Reuters Photo
Tudor, who has been living on the streets for four years, shows the refuge built under a bridge to members of the "Comunidade Vida e Paz" organization in Lisbon. ? Reuters Photo
Tudor, who has been living on the streets for four years, shows the refuge built under a bridge to members of the "Comunidade Vida e Paz" organization in Lisbon. ? Reuters Photo
Alfonso, who has been living on the streets for fifteen years, rests where he sleeps every night in Lisbon. ? Reuters Photo
Alfonso, who has been living on the streets for fifteen years, rests where he sleeps every night in Lisbon. ? Reuters Photo
Joao Manuel, who has been living on the streets for two years, eats with two friends under a bridge in Lisbon. ? Reuters Photo
Joao Manuel, who has been living on the streets for two years, eats with two friends under a bridge in Lisbon. ? Reuters Photo

Every night in Lisbon, members of the "Comunidade Vida e Paz" organization distribute food and attempt to persuade some 600 homeless people to participate in the organisation's rehabilitation programs.

According to a report that was published in 2011 by an European non-governmental organization that works with the homeless, Portugal is one of the four countries in the European Union (EU) that has seen a rise in the number of homelessness, a result of increased unemployment and cuts in social benefits. — Photos and Text by Reuters

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