Housing struggles in Cape Verde and rising gambling addiction in Portugal

In Cape Verde, families face significant housing challenges as World Habitat Day approaches. Residents in areas like Achada Mato report living in incomplete or damaged structures due to high material costs and insufficient income. Many families reside in single rooms or improvised dwellings, lacking adequate sanitation, water, and transport services.

In Portugal, the Institute for Addictive Behaviors and Dependencies (ICAD) reports a sharp rise in gambling addiction cases. The number of individuals seeking treatment rose from 358 in 2023 to 782 in 2025, a 118% increase. The newly established public Lisbon Gambling Intervention Unit treated 50 users in its first three months, including cases involving debts as high as three million euros. Data indicates a significant number of young men under 40 are among those seeking help.