António Lemos, a 79-year-old former combatant and kitchen assistant, resides in a dilapidated house lacking basic amenities in Lisbon. Despite receiving a pension and additional support, he struggles to find decent housing due to soaring real estate prices in a city now declared the best urban destination in Europe. Photographer Mário Cruz sheds light on this hidden reality in his project, Roof, showcasing the hardships faced by individuals like Lemos who live in inhospitable conditions. From makeshift homes in abandoned buildings to living in shipping containers, each story highlights the struggle for adequate housing in a city succumbing to gentrification.
While Portugal invests in housing assistance, the crisis persists, with many low-income individuals unable to afford a roof over their heads. Through poignant photographs and personal narratives, Cruz brings attention to the unmet promise of democracy, where individuals like Lemos navigate through poverty with dignity and resilience. Roof serves as a poignant reminder of the stark inequality existing beneath the glamorous facade of a tourist paradise.
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