The Regional Secretary for Social Solidarity assured that the Government of the Azores is aware of the situations of housing shortage and families facing severe difficulties.

"It has been one of the Government's priorities: support families with severe difficulties and also families facing social exclusion due to housing issues," stressed Piedade Lalanda, who spoke during the presentation of the public tender for the transfer of plots with the respective infrastructures in Milagres Allotment in the village of Arrifes, Ponta Delgada.

"It is very important that housing is not just a solution to give families a place to live, but also a key element in creating dynamics among communities and the social life of villages," defended the government official.

Accordingly, the Regional Secretary challenged the local community to demonstrate that it is possible to turn housing into a further "step towards social inclusion and local development."

Furthermore, Piedade Lalanda emphasised the importance of "promoting, stimulating and involving the community of Arrifes in this change and the creation of social dynamics, which involves, in this particular case, the allotments."

For the Regional Secretary, the creation of a community garden in Arrifes is one of the examples of local dynamics, being a "contribution of the Regional Government to the creation of useful spaces for families."

Nevertheless, the government official mentioned that, without the Government's intervention, the two allotments built in Arrifes by private initiative would be still abandoned. According to her, the Government has moved forward with the leasing of houses with the aim of "occupying vacant housing in the village when there are families facing housing shortages."

Alluding to the transfer of plots with the respective infrastructures in this village, Piedade Lalanda highlighted that this scheme is intended to "encourage families with some effort capacity." In this context, the government official mentioned other support programmes, such as the "Families with Future" Programme.

The 12 plots in Arrifes to be transferred under the tender are owned by the Autonomous Region of the Azores and are intended for the construction of 3-bedroom to 5-bedroom houses.

According to the Regional Secretary, this support measure provides increased support for the applications submitted by monoparental families and those with fiscal residence in the village of Arrifes.

The tender will also take into account household income, family size and age of the applicants; priority will be given to young couples.

The application period runs from August 26 to September 20. Applications may be submitted at the Attendance Office of the Regional Directorate for Housing.