Urban societal risks: integration of social disadvantaged residents

• Type: Article in International Conference Proceedings Book
• Date: 2016-07-02

Authors

Emília Malcata Rebelo (Author) FEUP

Conference proceedings International

Title: CUR 2016 - International Conference on Urban Risks

Pages: 981-986

Other information

Abstract (EN): The strong real-estate pressure in city centres gradually triggers sharp price rises and, consequently, engenders social risks for less-favoured disadvantaged residents. These result, on the one hand, from the strong deterioration of buildings and dwellings where they live and, on the other, from their economic and social vulnerabilities that question their permanence in the places where they have always lived (where they feel socially and culturally included). In these communication are reported the goals, methodologies, results and conclusions of a technical, socioeconomic and financial study undertaken for the Porto municipality (Portugal). It tackles the social risks faced by Porto “islands´” inhabitants. The “islands” consist in ranks of little houses built from the beginning of the 19th century on, aimed at lodging the working class that increasingly looked for urban areas in this city. Despite the analysis was pursued for all the “islands” in Porto city (Portugal), the case study herein presented centres in S. Víctor “islands”, located in the Urban Rehabilitation Area of Bonfim, just by the side of the historical centre classified as worldwide heritage by UNESCO. The study begins by the analysis of the risks involved in these “islands”, concerning, namely, buildings´ and dwellings´ physical deterioration, accessibility shortcomings, isolation and safety shortage. This characterization resulted from local visits, population surveys and interviews. Then a rehabilitation intervention by public authorities is proposed, which consists in the rehabilitation of the current dwellings, doubling their liveable areas, and remodelling them so to increase their residents´ comfort levels. Finally this rehabilitation proposal is supported on cost and profit assessment that justify its feasibility, resorting to available financial instruments. This proves its economic and financial sustainability, and stresses its contribution to social risk reduction (namely social exclusion and economic, social and cultural collapse of its inhabitants).

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 6