Fifty years ago, ten wooden houses with fibrocement roofing were built in the Cabedelo fishing neighborhood in Darque, Viana do Castelo, to temporarily rehouse families affected by the construction of the sea port. What was meant to be a provisional solution became permanent, with residents living in the same dwellings for half a century.
Manuel Augusto, now 81 years old, was 31 when he was rehoused in that area. He reports that he was told the stay would be temporary, but he continues in the same house. Lúcia Pires, his wife, Maria da Conceição Bezerra, who has lived in the neighborhood for 44 years, and Alberto Meira, among other residents, are in the same situation - they grew up, had children and grandchildren in the same dwellings.
The houses show signs of deterioration, with humidity in winter and heat in summer, as well as marks left by saltpeter. Many residents made small repairs over the years, but without property registration, they do not know how long they can remain in the dwellings, which prevents them from investing in their improvement.
Joaquim Pires has been in the neighborhood for almost 50 years and says he has seen municipal council officials visit the site and photograph the houses, but notes that after that "nothing else happened." The lack of a definitive solution keeps the residents in a situation of uncertainty that has already lasted half a century.
