Santa Casa opens the refurbished premises of the Anjos Social Support Centre
The Minister for Labour, Solidarity and Social Security was welcomed by Provedor Paulo Sousa and visited a facility which serves around 360 meals a day, as well as providing temporary accommodation, amongst other services.
Last Friday, 16 October, the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa officially opened the fully refurbished premises of the Anjos Social Support Centre (CASA), a historic site in the city which, despite the extensive refurbishment, never closed its doors to those most in need.
CASA provides a range of social services, including a soup kitchen, which serves around 360 meals a day, a temporary accommodation centre, occupational workshops, shower facilities, a laundry and a clothing bank. The centre also provides psychiatric consultations, promoting the wellbeing, independence and inclusion of those it supports.
This initiative was made possible by the support provided through the legacy of the benevolent Maria Cesarina Mota Vieira, reinforcing the importance of charitable donations to Santa Casa’s mission. The opening ceremony was blessed by the Chaplain of Santa Casa and Rector of the Igreja de São Roque, Father Francisco Campos.
The opening ceremony was attended by Maria do Rosário Palma Ramalho, Minister for Labour, Solidarity and Social Security, and Maria Luísa Aldim, Councillor for Câmara Municipal de Lisboa, who were welcomed by Paulo Sousa, Provedor of Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa, and the other members of the Misericórdia de Lisboa board.
Maria do Rosário Palma Ramalho noted that “this building addresses the most basic form of poverty: hunger”, and expressed “her gratitude to the centre’s staff” for their work in a “mission that is often difficult”.
The minister added that “this is a home and not just a shelter” and highlighted the work that Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa has been carrying out.
“Over the past two years, several of Santa Casa’s facilities have been rebuilt, refurbished or simply reopened. The refurbishment of this centre is a testament to what I have just said. An investment of over one million euros that supports almost 1,000 people”, she stated, also highlighting the patronage that helped with the refurbishment.
For the Provedor, “refurbishing this centre means, above all, creating better reception conditions and enhancing the quality of the service provided, which translates into the provision of over 130,000 meals a year – an average of 360 meals a day – and support for 960 people. This Centre also provides, once again, 15 beds for temporary accommodation”.
Paulo Sousa concluded by stating that “more than just figures, these statistics demonstrate the continuity of a mission that is fulfilled every day, welcoming and supporting those most in need”.
