The Regional Secretary for Social Solidarity formalised today the granting of subsidies for the rehabilitation of degraded housing and buildings affected by termites at a ceremony held in Ponta Delgada, which represents an investment over half a million Euros.
 
"The support to these 45 families amounts to more than 540 thousand Euros and is a direct investment of the Regional Government," said Andreia Cardoso. She stressed that these are exclusive resources of the Government of the Azores, namely from the taxes paid by all Azoreans, which confer on the Government "the responsibility to redistribute the resources according to the most pressing needs."
 
In her speech, she emphasised that the support covers families from almost 30 villages of São Miguel Island, stressing that the main goal is "to provide people with adequate housing that ensures proper safety and health conditions to families."
 
Andreia Cardoso stated that this policy to support degraded housing, in addition to the added value resulting from improved housing conditions for families, is equally relevant for the preservation and restoration of building heritage and, therefore, for creating conditions to maintain people in their places of origin.
 
However, the support provided by the Azorean Government in the area of housing is not limited to the rehabilitation of degraded housing. In this regard, the Regional Secretary pointed out the Lease incentive programme, which current supports about 1,500 families and represents an investment amount of nearly three million Euros.
 
The support authorised at today's ceremony covers homes located in the five municipalities of São Miguel, namely Ponta Delgada, Lagoa, Vila Franca do Campo, Povoação, Ribeira Grande and Nordeste.