AZORES | Maria João Carreiro highlights importance of local authorities in diversifying new housing solutions
The Regional Secretary for Youth, Housing and Employment, Maria João Carreiro, highlighted on Wednesday the importance of Municipal Councils in complementing and diversifying new housing solutions tailored to the different needs of families and young people residing in the Region.
At the handover ceremony of 28 new apartments built by Vila Franca do Campo Municipal Council as part of the 1.º Direito programme and funded under the RRP, the Regional Secretary emphasised the “determination and courage of this Council in transforming an investment opportunity into a tangible solution for families in the municipality.”
“Against a backdrop of multiple housing needs, this project demonstrates that local investment yields effective results when there is planning capacity, a close connection with local communities and the determination to take action,” she said.
The new apartments – 7 three-bedroom apartments and 21 two-bedroom apartments – were built in the “Pão do Vigário” housing development in the parish of São Pedro. They represent an investment of over €3.6 million and have been allocated to families under a lease support scheme.
The government official reiterated the Region’s willingness to cooperate with local authorities in promoting “more solid and more comprehensive responses that are effective in reaching those who need them,” noting that in Vila Franca do Campo alone, the Regional Government had allocated more than €3.5 million to housing through the RRP.
This investment includes the 23 new apartments in the Foros Sol Mar housing development in São Pedro, allocated under a lease with purchase option scheme, which were handed over to families on July 31, as well as the 15 serviced plots for allocation in the parishes of Ponta Garça and Ribeira das Tainhas.
According to Maria João Carreiro, access to affordable housing is a global challenge. It requires the ability to “develop public solutions whilst continuing to encourage private initiative,” through self-build projects and cooperatives, with a view to including more families in support schemes and achieving “greater convergence of efforts” across different levels of government.
In this specific context, the government official pointed out that the Regional Government has increased support for self-build projects on private plots or on serviced plots provided by the Region by 25%. It has also introduced a non-repayable grant of up to €5,000 per beneficiary to cover the cost of architectural designs and specialist services.
Addressing the families who have been allocated the new apartments, the Regional Secretary for Youth, Housing and Employment expressed her wish that “this new chapter be one filled with peace of mind, security and the opportunity to build a better future.”
The ceremony, organised by Vila Franca do Campo Municipal Council, was attended by the Mayor, Graça Melo; the President of the Municipal Assembly, Flávio Pacheco; members of the Legislative Assembly of the Azores, Eugénia Leal and Marlene Damião; as well as the mayors of the parish councils in the municipality of Vila Franca do Campo, representatives of security forces, and representatives of governmental and non-governmental organisations.
GRA/RÁDIOILHÉU
