CORREIA, Ana Lúcia    SANI, Ana Isabel. As casas de abrigo em Portugal: Caraterização estrutural e funcional destas respostas sociais. []. , 33, 1, pp.89-96. ISSN 0870-8231.  https://doi.org/10.14417/ap.918.

In Portugal there are several social responses headed to support domestic violence victims and their relatives which are characterized by structures of specialized treatment and shelter. Nowadays there are, in our country, 39 reception structures to support the victims known as “shelter homes”. This essay aims to firstly enhance the importance of these structures; describe its importance on a national and international scale and to make a brief description of these institutions supported by the data provided by a study that seeked to structurally and functionally characterize this type of social response. The qualitative data were gathered by means of an intentional sample, composed by 11 technicians of 9 “shelter homes” through a structured interview filled out in a form which was made available electronically. We have verified that there is a slight variability concerning the structural characteristics of the institutions which shelter women and their young children with the main purpose of guaranteeing their safety and protection. We have concluded by reflecting on the role of these social response structures in the emotional stability, support to the autonomy and in the laying-out of a life plan and protection of these domestic violence victims.

: Shelters; Children; Violence; Protection.

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