Nearly 680 thousand Euros is the amount granted by the Regional Secretariat for Labour and Social Solidarity to support housing and the promotion of equality of opportunities.
Under the programmes to support the renewal of degraded housing and the acquisition and construction of housing as well as the “Famílias com Future” (Families with Future) programme, the global amount of over 487 thousand Euros was awarded to a total of 15 households from the islands of São Miguel, Terceira and Graciosa, who may now benefit from better living conditions.
With regard to support awarded to the promotion of equality of opportunities, the Government granted more than 192 thousand Euros to various entities in the Autonomous Region of the Azores.
The funds, allocated by Ordinance, comprise the Santas Casas da Misericórdia das Lajes do Pico, Praia da Vitória, and Santa Cruz das Flores; UMAR - UMAR - Association for Women's Equality and Rights, the Nossa Senhora da Oliveira Social and Parish Centre and the Family Therapy Centre.
The support is intended to subsidise expenses with the establishment of attendance and support centre for domestic violence victims, including emergency shelters on the islands of Pico and Flores, the development of the project “Centre of initiatives to prevent and combat domestic violence in compliance with the provision of the Regional Plan to Prevent and Combat Domestic Violence.
In addition, the amount allocated will assure the support to operation expenses related to the integration disabled people in labour occupational programmes; the integration of socially excluded individuals and disabled people in occupational programmes for the acquisition of labour skills; the subsidisation of the necessary logistical and administrative support for the operation of the Special and Inter-institutional Team to Prevent and Combat Domestic Violence on São Miguel, and to the development of the actions deemed necessary for the establishment of the Rehabilitation Programme for Aggressors - “Contigo” (With You) on other islands.