Problem addressed
In Portugal, there are more than 600,000 people living in housing deprivation. Living in housing deprivation means living in a house where many of the basic needs are missing. For example, these are homes where the lack of solid structures cannot protect from the cold and the rain; where the absence of piped water makes it impossible to go to the bathroom or take shower (particularly a hot shower); where the lighting and ventilation are so inadequate, they inhibit reading, learning, or breathing proper clean air. These homes are not safe to live in, let alone provide shelter, and do not provide wellness nor comfort. Those who live in such houses cannot enjoy their homes as they lack a place that meets their emotional, learning and development needs.
Housing deprivation is also the first cause of Energy Poverty in Portugal. This means not having access to the appropriate amount of energy to meet daily needs. Deficient building structures lead to energy inefficiencies, requiring an excessive amount of energy to light, clean, cook and heat the house. High energetic needs combined with a weak economic situation throws many families into Energy Poverty. In 2019, 18,9% of the Portuguese population couldn’t keep their house properly heated.
Just a Change was founded as a response to this crisis, focused on renovating the homes of those in need. Improving living conditions reduces health and safety risks. Renovating a house offers its inhabitants a new starting point for their lives. We work both in rural contexts and large metropolitan areas. Metropolitan areas (of Lisbon and Porto) have seen in the past few years steep increase in housing costs, and unemployment rates are higher than the national average (6,5% in Portugal and 7,1% in LMA). On another hand, the desertification of rural areas means we have very isolated communities, with many elderly people with no support network, living off low-paying pension.
Innovative solution
Just a Change was founded as a response to the housing crisis, focused on renovating the homes of those in need. We designed three different volunteer-based models, to be able to serve all kinds of communities and locations, each one with different purposes.
Turn up is set in urban areas, Camp In takes us to rural areas; and they are both focused on renovating private homes. The All-In program was designed to provide renovation to institutions and improve the conditions of these organizations that serve a large population.
Nowadays, housing deprivation has a lack of responses facing the existent needs. Whether through public policies or the social or private sector - there are obviously no construction companies focusing on a segment of clients unable to pay for their intervention - the answers given are not enough. Our solution doesn’t imply a mobilization to municipal housing nor require moving the beneficiary elsewhere. On the other hand, as an innovation factor, we promote the involvement of the beneficiary in the renovation. By participating on the process, Just a Change focuses on maintaining the beneficiary’s emotional bonds with the house, the memories and the continuity of belonging in their community, preventing them from leaving their roots. We are promoting the (re)integration of the family or underprivileged person, by taking them as part of the solution, promoting their involvement, and assuring they are part of the renovation process, therefore giving back their self-esteem and appreciation for their shelter. This also prevents further isolation of this population.
At the same time our model is a volunteer-based one. We mobilize young volunteers, believing it is through their dedication and engagement that transformation happens. Most of them are Portuguese students coming from all over the country, who volunteer in the large urban cities during the school year, and then get in touch with unfamiliar and isolated areas of Portugal during the summer activities. The volunteers’ youth bring energy and joy to an often-isolated population, giving back hope, dignity, and joy. The bond between volunteers and beneficiaries leads to an endless source of happiness, energy, and exchange between generations. The involvement of volunteers and of local social agents creates an ecosystem aware of Housing Deprivation, which is usually a distant and unspoken issue. Young volunteers face the renovation works as a mission of service and not as a job or task. It also contributes to the development of leadership and a generation more conscious of social issues.
Finally, our programs promote and support the creation of a stakeholder network that connects different sectors (public, private and the social one). The goal is to create a systematic change where different actors work towards the same goal and develop collaborative solutions for the local communities. This model is financially sustainable and adapts to local context to create as tailored solutions as possible. Just a Change methodology was tested and replicated in more than 30 municipalities across Portugal and as planned in our growth strategy it will serve as a base to get to more and new areas.
Key results and benefits
Since 2010, Just a Change has already renovated more than 600 houses, impacting more than 1000 beneficiaries, mobilizing more than 9000 volunteers to rebuild these houses and more than 200 other social institutions. All this was performed in more than 30 different municipalities of Portugal.
In 2024 alone, we renovated 115 homes of 240 beneficiaries, 68 institutions (serving more than 66409 beneficiaries), in 27 municipalities. To achieve this, we counted on 1524 volunteers and 405891 12 corporate volunteers.
Furthermore, impact assessment is a priority in our work, as it helps us ensure that activities lead us to fulfill our mission. We want to make sure that we have an impact on the lives of our beneficiaries in the short, medium and long term. For this, we have created an Impact Measurement team that evaluates our work in five parameters:
- Health and self-esteem
- Security and protection
- Comfort and well-being
- Inclusion and citizenship
- Training and employability
As an example, in 2023 alone, 50% of the beneficiaries reduced their frequency with which they have been sick last year, 58% reduced the frequency of feeling down, depressed, irritable or hopeless, while 38% increased the frequency with which they participated in local event activities.
Within its goals, Just a Change aims to become a mobilizer of society on the issue of housing poverty. To further this mission, Just a Change is introducing a new model of long-term engagement of the beneficiaries, designed to ensure that the positive impact on their lives continues even after the renovation is completed. We recognize that while a renovated house can be the starting point for a new chapter, beneficiaries will face numerous challenges ahead. Therefore, our goal is to collaborate with other local entities to provide the necessary support and create a lasting impact for those we assist.
Potential for mainstreaming
Replication and growth have always been a key strategic line to Just a Change. With offices and year long activities in Lisbon and Porto (and most recently also in Guimarães), the project has expanded and engaged in activities in more than 30 different municipalities across Portugal.
By implementing a collaborative solution between the public, private and non-profit sectors, Just a Change maximizes the systemic impact on the community. The intervention presents a financially sustainable model, as it is fully funded and sustained locally. It also adapts to each community, through the close participation of multiple local actors in all the phases of the methodology.
The process is thus replicable for any public, community, geography or housing typology affected by the problem. Replicating our solution and reaching new municipalities is our strategic growth plan for the coming years.
