Portugal

CAIS Association was founded in 1994 to support people suffering extreme poverty and social exclusion, notably those who are homeless, so they can regain independence and control of their lives. With 18 years of experience, CAIS distinguishes itself today through a unique and pioneering mission of inclusion and intervention.

Futebol de Rua (Street Football) is the football-based programme run by CAIS Association. The team put together by the project first participated in the Homeless World Cup in 2004, and today Futebol de Rua is a nationwide project with a range of different activities.

The economic crisis has been identified as the major cause for increased homelessness in the past five years. While unemployment has been rising, benefits have been severely cut as a part of austerity measures (Revolting Europe, 2013).