At a time when the number of homeless or needy people in Portugal is quite worrying, collaborative work between companies like Living Tours and charities like CASA is essential. The support these organizations provide, whether through the distribution of meals, clothing, or other basic goods, often guarantees the subsistence of people in a situation of socio-economic need.   
 

What is the CASA association?

To help those most affected by social inequalities, be they homeless people, families at risk, or in need, the Homeless Support Center (CASA) was created in 2002. This Social Solidarity Institution (IPSS) has several branches in different parts of the country (Albufeira, Cascais, Coimbra, Figueira da Foz, Lisbon, Madeira, Paredes, Porto and Setúbal) and operates at different levels:

• distribution of hot meals to the homeless population;
• distribution of food baskets to families at risk or in need;
• distribution of clothing, blankets, and sleeping bags;
• provision of hygiene products and referral to primary health care;
• psychological assistance;
• support for social reintegration;
• accommodation.

The relationship between the CASA association and Living Tours 

What does an IPSS like Casa and a tourism company like Living Tours have in common? The answer is simple: the desire to help those who need it most. For almost three years now, Living has been working together with the Homeless Support Center, through monetary donations and volunteer activities, in which the livingtourians themselves roll up their sleeves. In these actions, volunteers help to prepare and deliver meals, as well as any other goods that need to be taken to those most in need.

Why do this interview?

As part of the Living Talks initiative (a series of interviews with Living Tours employees), the interview with CASA kicks off the conversations with our social partners.

Better than just doing, it's encouraging others to do as well. In addition to volunteering and donating, at Living Tours, we want to give visibility and a voice to the institutions/organizations we collaborate with. Through these interviews, they can talk more specifically about the work they do and reach more people. All help is precious and welcome.  

The interview

On May 9th, at around 3 pm, we went to visit CASA to talk to Ana Salão, head of the Porto office. Come and find out how it went. 

The bread was cut in half and spread with butter. Together with a packet of cookies and a carton of milk, it was then placed in a plastic bag, with the speed of someone who is no longer new to this business. The volunteers repeated this process again and again when we entered the CASA kitchen. It was a hot day, and the kitchen was even hotter, but that didn't stop anyone. The meals had to be delivered within a few hours and there was no time to lose.

It is this spirit of mission that drives CASA and its employees, who work every day to bring hot food, essential goods, and a friendly word to those who need it most.

Watch or read the full interview here:

Cláudia: "Hello! We're starting the cycle of interviews with our social partners. This first interview will be with a partner we've been working with for two years now, CASA, the Homeless Support Center. Ana Salão, who oversees the Porto office, is with us. Thank you in advance for coming and for making yourself available for a few questions, which will help us to raise the profile of the CASA project and explain our partnership a little more."

Ana: "Thank you."

Cláudia: "First of all, what is the CASA Association?"

Ana: "CASA is the Homeless Support Center. It's an association that works essentially with two target groups: homeless people and families in need. It was set up in 2002 in Lisbon. We were inspired by a Buddhist delegation that was visiting the city and asked an initial group of volunteers to create the association to help feed the people they saw on the street. In 2008, the Porto office was created. Today we have 10 branches throughout the country. We are an IPSS and a legal person of public utility, so we essentially work with people who are homeless."

Cláudia: "Our next question is precisely related to that because we really want to understand the scope of your project. So, in social terms, what is CASA's impact, not only at a national level but also here in the city of Porto?"

Ana: "At a national level, all our delegations have a project that is transversal to all of them. It's called "Casa Amiga”, and it works with families in need. Not all the places where we're based have the same problems as people experiencing homelessness. There's no doubt that Porto and Lisbon are the two cities where we really have the most work in this area. However, in each of the delegations, we develop projects in cooperation with local authorities, parish councils, and other associations, in order to understand what is needed in those communities. And we're keen to find out what's needed and then implement it together with the other associations."

Cláudia: "Do you feel that there are a lot of people, not just here in the Porto and Lisbon offices, but also nationwide, who need help, who have a lot of needs?"

Ana: "Yes. Last year we managed to exceed 860 homeless people, just here in the Porto office, who we were able to support in some way."

Cláudia: "And it's been going up?"  

Ana: "That number has been rising."

Claúdia: "Of course. And for that, I believe you also have some volunteers."

Ana: "Yes. There are more than 1,000 volunteers in terms of national CASA. Here in Porto, there are 400 of us. We have the street team projects, of which there are 4. We have a partnership with the Porto City Council, in a project called "Restaurantes Solidários", where we serve 600 meals a day, 365 days a year, plus the 150 we take to the street. We distribute directly in the vans. So just in these two projects, we have an idea of how many volunteers we need and how big we are here in Porto."

Cláudia: "And to be a volunteer, what’s needed, Ana?"

Ana: "To become a volunteer is very simple. All you must do is go to our website (CASA - Centro de Apoio ao Sem-Abrigo), choose the office where you want to volunteer, and sign up. After a short training session, which takes about 1.5 hours online, you're ready to start volunteering with us."

Cláudia: "Excellent. Now, perhaps we could move on to the context of Living Tours. Since we've been partners for over two years, we'd like you to share with us how this collaboration with Living Tours began?"

Ana: "This partnership started more than two years ago, we're already on the way to three. It started from Living's desire, as part of its social responsibility project, not only to work with CASA, but also with other organizations, to do this work on the ground. It was a perfect match because we really need help. The partnership we have with Living Tours is unique, we don't have any other partnership of this kind in the Porto office. In addition to the fact that Living collaborates with CASA every month in terms of the volunteer team, it is also a patron of CASA, which helps us to carry out our mission. It's a really important partnership for us."

Cláudia: "So do you feel that, because we are also your patrons, we have had a big impact on the CASA project here in Porto?"

Ana: "Absolutely, because some of the expenses are always difficult, namely water, electricity, and fixed costs that aren't specific to a project. It's always a struggle for us to make ends meet. And not only that. All the food that's bought with this help, so that here, in this kitchen, we can cook the meals that go out into the street, because we cook everything from scratch here. Only then do we assemble the kits, and that's where the other aspect of Living comes in, arriving with the team and making the kits completely autonomously, because they're from the house. They know how to do everything, we don't even need a CASA coordinator, because Rui himself was a coordinator at one time. And these kits are also important because people usually only have one meal a whole day. And that hot meal we bring is eaten on the spot. So, these kits allow people to have something to eat for breakfast, lunch, plus a snack."

Cláudia: "Exactly. Because it's not just the hot meal that we bring."   

Ana: "Yes. And that's a lot of work, making 150 or 200 of each. There are sandwiches, cakes, fruit, milk, yogurts, and sometimes a little treat when there is one. But that work is taken care of by the Living Tours team when they come here."

Cláudia: "Basically, we go out and distribute these meals. That's how it happens. We go around the city of Porto on certain days."

Ana: "The patrol, despite having its specific locations, is not unchanging. It is updated according to the signals we receive. There are other areas of the city where we don't distribute because they're served by the "Restaurantes Solidários" and there's no point in duplicating this. But these rounds are done directly in the vans. We stop at each place and distribute to those people."

Cláudia: "And what, in terms of well-being figures, is the impact on these people who receive these meals?"

Ana: "We're not just talking about food here. Of course, we always talk about food, but we also have a huge impact with the company we usually keep, by talking to them, finding out what their problems are, and having sorting sheets, so that if they have any other questions, they can ask. But also, clothes, blankets, and hygiene products. Things that are eventually collected by Living Tours and donated to CASA. They are also distributed directly by Living Tours on the street."

Cláudia: "I think that this component you were referring to of CASA bringing food, these kits, this primary need, but also the component of affection, of the friendly word, is quite interesting. We've noticed that when a CASA van arrives, people come up to you and, as well as looking for the kit, they also try to talk to you a bit and sometimes even ask you for help."

Ana: "Yes, on several issues. One of the most important things we've been developing at CASA over the last few years is that we don't just focus on this welfare issue, which doesn't change anyone's life from the ground up. We've started promoting and focusing on social reintegration, getting people off the streets, trying to find them a job, and finding out if they need mental health or substance abuse treatment because substance abuse is one of the main reasons why these people are homeless. This is one of the areas we're now focusing on here in Porto, so that we can change the lives of these people, or at least some of them."

Cláudia: "Right. You've already told us that Living Tours plays a very important role here with its donations, not just money, but also the donations that come in spontaneously from our employees, clothes, and other things. As well as having this volunteering character, always collaborating with CASA, do you think Living Tours can help you in any other way in your mission?"

Ana: "I think the best way for you to help us is to effectively maintain the partnership because it's extremely important for us on both counts. In addition, for example, in vacation months, when you come, you give our volunteers a break. And that's not all. It's that breath of fresh air you bring, the motivation that is also good for those who are here all year round. The interaction between the two parties is extraordinary."

Cláudia: "Good. Can you think of any cases where you feel that our Living Tours work has really had an impact on someone's life?"

Ana: "You feel it yourself when you're handing things out directly on the street. It's different for someone to donate and know that it's been given to someone, or to see the person receiving the things and feeling the need for them. So, I think there's nothing better than feeling it on the spot, in the moment. But in terms of impact, I remember a few times when we had very small teams here at CASA and it was Living Tours, completely autonomously, that carried out and coordinated the rounds, because they already knew the circuit so well. That's what helped us in those difficult times, so we have a lot to be grateful for."

Cláudia: "Thank you, Ana. In fact, I was going to ask you precisely if our help had any impact on your volunteering activities, and you've already answered that question. Now, I have another question that relates to the future of CASA and Living Tours' collaboration. Do you think there's any chance of us extending or even improving our support for CASA?"

Ana: "We do rounds four times a week, so if you can get volunteers to do more days, it would always make sense. In this management, one of the things that concerns us is to be consistent and for people to know that they can trust us, and this means that we can't fail. We've never stopped for a single day since 2008 here in Porto, not even during the pandemic. And so, for this, you need the machine to never stop."

Cláudia: "That makes a lot of sense, Ana. And maybe we can collaborate with you and participate in your actions more often. Finally, what are the challenges for 2024 here at CASA?"

Ana: "I think the challenges for 2024 are transversal to society. We intend to maintain the support we've been giving, both to homeless people and their families, without in any way diminishing the quality we're used to working with. However, we are concerned about whether we will be able to continue supporting the growing number of people who are coming to us every day, which is well above normal. Just to give you an idea, last year, in 2023, we increased the number of baskets we distributed by 45%. We distributed 5600 baskets, which is almost double what we distributed the previous year. And in terms of homeless people, we also increased this distribution. And so, our biggest concern and challenge will be this. Knowing if we're going to have the means to continue supporting everyone who comes to us."

Cláudia: "And what appeal would you make to people, companies, and institutions to collaborate with you in helping those most in need?"

Ana: "My appeal is for them to help us. We can only do our work on the ground with the help of all the companies and individuals who help us every day, not just with donations, but also by volunteering. And that they sign up as volunteers."

Cláudia: "Of course. Ana, thank you so much for being available for these questions. Is there anything else you'd like to add or share with us?"

Ana: "Yes. On behalf of CASA, not just CASA Porto, but on behalf of CASA nationally, I'd like to thank Living Tours enormously for their support, because it is, as I said, a unique partnership. And it makes all the difference how consistently you do it. This is already a family; they already belong to the CASA family. It's not Living and CASA, it's just one team. So, for the partnership and all the friendliness, I'd like to thank you."

Cláudia: "It's a real pleasure for us to be collaborating with you, and I believe this partnership will last for many years to come. Thank you very much, Ana." 

We are proud to be a patron of an institution like Casa, and of the positive results that come from this "perfect marriage". Living's monetary donations have helped support some of CASA's expenses and our volunteers make it possible to reach more people who need help.

And you can help too. If you would like to make a monetary donation, simply go to the CASA website and use the mbway, ATM, or bank transfer options to donate the amount you want. If you would like to become a volunteer, you can also register on the institution's website.

At Living Tours we like to help: "Living is giving".

Help too.

To find out about other social causes we support, see Livingtourians Together for a Cause.