The Regional Secretary for Social Solidarity said today at the Legislative Assembly in Horta that the "Families with Future" programme has already supported 2,000 families. The initiative is intended to streamline the access of families to housing through leasing.

This programme comprises social renting and a lease incentive scheme. With its implementation, the Government of the Azores has already invested 3.2 million Euros, revealed Andreia Cardoso. The government official spoke during the presentation of a proposal to revise this programme, which was established in 2009.

The Regional Secretary stressed that the revision, approved in plenary session, allows to "reinforce the support to families whose effort rate exceeds 30% as well as to maintain the support to the families that already benefit from the programme."

"In addition to the eligibility conditions, the revision will also cover the criteria for prioritization, contract duration and frequency of payments," said Andreia Cardoso. In this context, the government official added the implementation of the Social Support Index (IAS) renders the programme "more accessible to families with lower income."

"With these changes, we aim to avoid that poorer families be relegated to the outskirts. Under the current support model, this situation could happen as the support was calculated in accordance with the housing rent. This could lead people with lower income to the outskirts," stressed the Regional Secretary for Social Solidarity.

"Families with Future" is a programme aimed at households facing serious socio-economic and housing shortages as well as at individuals or families, who are currently tenants or wish to become so with the allocation of a monthly subsidy. This measure will improve the housing autonomy of the families concerned.