During the Regional Government's statutory visit, the Regional Secretariat for Social Solidarity allocated more than 200 thousand Euros to support the recovery of degraded housing.
 
"The Government of the Azores remains committed to improving the housing conditions of all Azoreans, working on this goal on a daily basis," said Andreia Cardoso. She spoke at the signing ceremony of a protocol with Salvaterra - Association for the Development of Social Solidarity of Santa Maria.
 
This protocol, amounting to 5,000 Euros, includes the renewal of a partnership established in 2015 to ensure the collaboration of the institution's carpentry services in the recovery works of degraded housing supported by the Regional Directorate for Housing on the island of Santa Maria.
 
"This is a breath of fresh air in a true collaboration of success that highlights good practices, as evidenced by the fact the partnership agreements we are signing today with public and private entities. In fact, they allow us to reach families in situation of increased vulnerability and to opt for a closer management of their needs and respective solutions," said Andreia Cardoso.
 
In the course of the statutory visit, the Government also awarded support for the rehabilitation of degraded housing that amounts to 197 thousand Euros. It covers all villages in the municipality of Vila d Porto, allowing improvements in health and safety conditions for more than thirty people.
 
"All investments in rehabilitation of housing, through the launch of contract works and the allocation of support to families for the rehabilitation and construction of housing, have contributed to the maintenance of the population on Santa Maria and the viability of the island's economic fabric," said the Regional Secretary.
 
The Regional Government is also preparing a single action towards the eradication of the termite plague on this island, based on a study commissioned to the University of the Azores. It is possible to do so on the islands where the infestation has not reached great proportions and is relatively confined to specific areas, namely on the islands of São Jorge, Pico and Santa Maria.
 
"The expert technician from the Regional Directorate for the Environment has already visited the island. Moreover, new traps have been installed and the survey of the area to be treated in each property is being conducted in order to define a budget for the disinfestation action," said Andreia Cardoso.