Cabo Verde launches pilot program to relocate families in Praia

The Cabo Verdean government has launched a pilot project under the ‘Barraca Zero’ program to relocate approximately 100 families living in precarious housing in the capital city of Praia. Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Land Management, Carlos Tavares, announced that the initiative aims to eliminate identified shacks in neighborhoods such as Jamaica, Águas Fundas, Palmarejo Grande, and Alto da Glória.

Families are being moved into completed social housing in the Achada Limpo and Palmarejo Grande areas. According to the Minister, about 20 people have already been relocated in the past week. While a 2021 census suggested there were 500 shacks in Praia, current surveys identify closer to 100, as many residents have improved their living conditions.

The program is part of a broader national effort to address housing insecurity. The government estimates there are between 2,500 and 3,000 precarious dwellings across the islands of Santiago, São Vicente, Sal, and Boa Vista. The initiative intends to expand to São Vicente, Sal, and Boa Vista following the pilot phase in Praia.