Around three thousand households are currently enrolled in the various housing programme waiting lists of the Regional Government. This figure was revealed by the President of the Regional Government, Miguel Albuquerque, during a visit to the construction work of 15 dwellings at Quinta Josefina, in Santo António, Funchal, integrated in the PRR Housing for the Region.
According to the President of Madeira, the contract represents an investment of 3.4 million euros and should be completed by the summer, including the construction of 15 T2 apartments for allocation on a reduced rent basis to families with housing needs.
The head of the Madeiran Executive recalled that this is another intervention under the PRR, recalling that 504 dwellings have already been delivered in the Region and that, by the summer of this year, another 301 homes should be completed. The Regional Government intends to continue the construction of dwellings at controlled costs, both through the Regional Budget and other modalities, including cooperatives, in conjunction with the municipal councils.
Albuquerque acknowledged that the greatest housing pressure is on young couples, advocating the creation of affordable solutions in a market that he classified as “very difficult” for those starting their working lives. The current programmes include different modalities, from the construction and recovery of houses to support for the payment of rents; however, the Madeiran executive did admit that the proliferation of local accommodation has aggravated the pressure on the housing situation.
Regarding the applications, the minister admitted the existence of exclusions due to non-compliance with criteria, a situation that he considered normal, noting, however, that in some cases it was necessary to make rectifications, when minimal differences in income left families out of support.
Anticipating a balance of the RRP in the area of housing – to be executed by next June -, Albuquerque said that the execution rate will be 100%, in the sense that all funds will be applied, despite the difficulties imposed by the short deadlines and the increase in construction costs.
Current information reveals that the average rental cost in Funchal is €1,800 per month. The minimum wage, as now confirmed in the Official Gazette, is €980 per month.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
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