Câmara's Crisis Care

Lagos câmara is working hard to help us all in this time of crisis, with a series of initiatives. Tomorrow magazine has been in touch with the Mayor’s office to find out more.

With many struggling to deal with the impact of the recent changes, Lagos Council has stepped in to launch numerous support packages for families and the local economy including social support, measures for families, students, parents, seniors and risk groups, homeless people as well as victims of domestic violence.

A reduced tariff for water consumption will be implemented and in some cases reduced by 10% for domestic users, and non-domestic users between March and December 2020.

Families suffering from a drop in income due to the impact of the pandemic will be helped with housing, either through the support mechanism for private leasing or the exemption from the payment of supported rents (for households residing in municipal housing), between April and December.

Social support, including food, medication, hygiene products and other necessities will be expanded.

Key workers will receive specific support for the purchase of personal protection material, as well as aid for the payment of social contributions by households with proven economic difficulties. Students and parents will be eligible for the provision of home-cooked meals and there will be an expansion of pre-school education family support services and telephone support for psychological and psycho-educational support.

Seniors and risk groups will receive home delivery of food baskets and other essential goods, home delivery of cooked meals, contacts for establishments and services operating on a takeaway or home delivery basis and telephone support for psychological support.

For the homeless, there will be a distribution of daily meals at lunchtime and food reinforcement at the weekend (Cais da Solaria) and the provision of changing rooms and a change of clothes (10h-12h, Balneario do Clube de Vela de Lagos). In terms of the stimulating economic activity, and mitigating the effects of the pandemic, several measures are envisaged. These range from exemption from the payment of tolls for public roads and advertising for the year 2020, amounts already paid will be refunded.

Stores, market stalls and fairs in the period between April and December will be exempt from municipal rents. Maritime tourism and bathing entertainment activities will be exempt from payment of fees in commercial ventures that are within their license. Companies who are usually charged a certain level of taxable profit as a contribution to structural works for the municipality will not be applied in 2021. A program to stimulate commercial activity will be created for Micro-companies, SMEs and ENIs, with activity in the municipality.

The Chamber is studying the feasibility of reducing the IMI and IRS tax rates to be applied next year, since there is no legal possibility to change those set for 2020.

Urban bus transport in Lagos will have an exemption to the tariffs up to June although subject to a possible extension.

The National Support Network for Victims of Domestic Violence is still operating. If you are a victim of domestic violence and need help, or if you are aware of a situation, the contact is at the end of the article.

All of the schemes will require you to apply for assistance.

Lagos is with you! We are together!

Do you need support or know someone who might need help? Contact us:

expediente.geral@cm-lagos.pt

+351 282 780 900 / 282 771 700 (9am - 5pm business days)

Emergency line: 112

SMS: 3060

CIG: 800 202 148 (toll-free helpline, 24/7) •

Social Emergency Line: 144 (toll-free line 24h) •

GAVA - Victim Support Office: gava@taipa-desenvolvimento.pt +351 924 467 767 (9 am - 5.30pm)