The Regional Secretary for Social Solidarity stated today that the rehabilitation of building heritage has been a priority of the Regional Government, stressing that the support programme for the recovery of degraded housing has contributed to “the improvement of housing conditions for families" throughout the archipelago. 

Andreia Cardoso spoke on the sidelines of a visit to the infrastructure restoration works taking place in Nossa Senhora de Fátima neighbourhood, Santa Cruz das Flores, as part of the Government's statutory visit to this island. On the occasion, she stressed that “the Government has strongly invested in supporting the recovery of degraded housing as well as the construction of housing projects for young couples in partnership with Municipalities." 

On Tuesday, during the statutory visit to Corvo, the government official visited two houses that were rehabilitated following an ARAAL contract signed with the municipality. 

The Regional Secretariat for Social Solidarity, through the Regional Directorate for Housing, signed an ARAAL contract amounting to 100 thousand Euros with Corvo Town Council in 2017, which aimed at the recovery of 16 houses located in the town's historic area. 

“With this contract, the Regional Government intended to continue the recovery and enhancement of the Corvo's housing heritage, namely in the town's historic area," said the government official. 

The Secretary for Housing recalled the new "Renovated House, Inhabited House" programme, which provides for the rehabilitation of vacant houses and their subsequent integration into the long-term rental market. 

The "Renovating for Renting" component grants financial support for the conversion of vacant properties into properties with conditions to be put on the rental market,” stressed the Regional Secretary. 

"This measure will support the intervention budget at a 100% rate and takes the form of an interest-free reimbursable subsidy," added the government official. 

This support is granted through financing the rehabilitation and recovery of vacant properties, whose owners are unable to rehabilitate them. 

The recovered property will be used by the Region for long-term lease, i.e., during the period necessary for the full reimbursement of the support granted by the Region for rehabilitation purposes," added the Regional Secretary.