Homeless Support

In Portugal, inequalities and poverty are very visible, especially in big urban centers. The access to social basic services, economic resources, housing, and, in the end, a job, is even more limited to people in vulnerable situations and at risk.
This program aims to reduce these inequalities by helping these people to live their lives in dignity and contributing to the important mission of the non-profit organization offering free accommodation, food, clothes, medical care, and all the basic support.

In this program, you will join and support the local host center in its daily tasks.
Your tasks may include preparing, cooking and distributing meals for the homeless people, developing sportive and recreational activities, maintaining the center or sorting clothing donations. There is also the possibility to participate and help in other activities related to their education and therapies by sharing your skills and culture.
This host center is directed to people with drug addiction who don’t have any social or family support, so it helps to minimize the social and individual risks caused by the addiction.
Get involved in providing them with a “safe harbor” and create both value and meaning for them, leaving a positive impact on their lives and yours alike!

A Typical day would be:

After the initial orientation, you will have a morning or afternoon shift at your placement and will work for approximately 3 to 5 hours per day. Please note that start times and daily workload depends on the project that you are participating in. A typical day schedule is as follows:

08:00 | Breakfast begins at Impact House, available until 10 am

10:15 | Enjoy your free morning as you wish or attend Portuguese languages lessons                                                                

13:00 |  Lunch is served at the accommodation or take-away if you want to go somewhere else                                

14:30 | Travel to placement to join local placement staff and begin work on your project (if afternoon shift)    

19:00 | Dinner at the volunteers' accommodation with the other volunteers. After dinner, you will have the remainder of the evening free to relax and use as you wish

Please note that the actual schedule can change according to the shifts volunteers participate in.

Lisbon is near the beach, near the mountain and is a great starting point to get to travel the rest of the country.

Enjoy climbing in Arrábida, festivals all around the summer, diving in Peniche, Hiking in Monsanto, visit some of the best museums in Europe in Lisbon and Porto, join for a Horse ride at the beach (like in the movies!), visit the fantastic zoo in the Capital, join a great variety of sports at your choice, enjoy swimming and water sports at the pool or at the beach (warning: the water is cold) and participate in yoga classes in relaxing places.

We can help you with anything you might want to do in your free time.