The Minister of Social Development, Gonzalo Civilaassured that the portfolio is “applying” the Law of Misdemeanors as one of the tools for “organize public space” and He said he was willing to evaluate the implementation of mandatory evacuation outside the winter monthsas happened last year with the red alert decreed for this issue.
Civila attended this Tuesday Population and Development Commission of the Chamber of Deputies summoned by the white representative Fernanda Auersperghead of the Ministry of Social Development (Mides) during the last government.
“We are applying the Law of Misdemeanorswhich, as you know, is not a tool to address the street situation, but to organize public space, but we are applying it,” Civila said in a press conference.
Orsi Civila
The minister maintained that the application of this rule is in coordination with the Ministry of the Interior and the municipalities. And he also said that the involuntary (or compulsory) confinement law“that approved in September 2024during the government of Luis Lacalle Pou.
On the other hand, Civila said that he is willing to evaluate the mandatory evacuation of people who are homeless outside the red alert that was decreed—and will also be decreed this year—for the winter.
“We are going to apply mandatory evacuation to the extent that the red alert is operational and we are willing to evaluate that tool or other tools in the future without any complexities.“he stressed.
Last year, the government—under the coordination of the Presidency of the Republic through the National Emergency System (Sinae)—decreed a red alert for people experiencing homelessness due to the intense cold weather, which lasted from June 22 and lasted three months. Under this alert, the ministry compulsorily removed people due to the imminent danger of life.
Last week, on the occasion of the presentation of the First National Street Situation Strategy, The government announced that it would decree the red alert again, but that the Winter Plan would become a 365 Plan, applied all year round..
Although there is no updated data on the number of people who are homeless today – the last census was in 2023 and the results were questioned by the current government -, at last week’s conference the government presented some figures: in 2024 the number of people who had used Mides accommodation devices was 11,251 and by the end of 2025 they had risen to 13,597. That is, 20% more.
This, however, does not mean that there are 13,597 people living on the street, but it is a relevant indicator, as indicated by the government.
The measures announced by the government to address the problem They include the launch of an application for citizens to report cases of people experiencing homelessness, the implementation of more social housing – which is intended to house around three thousand people by 2028 – and the creation of two thousand jobs, among other things.
It is also They made modifications to the means of communication available to citizens: 0800 365 000 or WhatsApp 091 365 000 now works.
