The President of the Government assured today that the Government is working, within its powers and resources, to implement various measures that will support Azorean families that still need assistance in the Housing Sector.

"There is not the slightest doubt about our commitment to support those who need to be supported," assured Vasco Cordeiro. The government official spoke after the signing of sublease contracts with purchase option for 60 apartments located in Quinta do Castanheiro Neighbourhood in Ponta Delgada.

Pointing out the work that is being developed, the President of the Government added that the Regional Government allocates an annual amount of 10 million Euros to the ARAAL contracts signed with local authorities under the lease support programme, "Families with Future," and the programme to support the renewal of degraded housing. Currently, these measures cover nearly three thousand families.

"We are aware that we need to do more and better," Vasco Cordeiro said, reiterating "the Government's determination and strength to work, within its powers and resources, in order to increase the number of families covered by this programme."

According to Vasco Cordeiro, this is an ongoing effort in several aspects, either in the application for lease incentive programmes that will open on August 1 or in the allocation of housing plots, as it recently happened on the island of Flores, or even in the launching of other applications and support measures.

In his speech, the President of the Government congratulated the families, mostly young households, who formalised today the sublease contracts with the Region. In addition to paying the rent, these families will also take on a "set of responsibilities" to assure the proper maintenance of their property.

"This is a commitment that the Government of the Azores to taken in order to channel the Region's resources to a measure designed to support families, thus fulfilling one of their fundamental rights," stressed Vasco Cordeiro.

Starting today, these sixty families will be the holders of a lease contract. After a year, they will have the possibility of purchasing the dwellings, thus, becoming their owners.