The Regional Secretary for Social Solidarity considered today that "in a country where the Welfare State is dying and the support to families is dropping to levels registered 10 years ago, Azorean citizens may continue to rely on the Regional Government for social support."

"Contrary to the policies conducted by National Government led by PSD and CDS-PP, which is reducing social benefits indiscriminately without sparing the elderly, pensioners, sick people and widows, the Regional Government will reinforce the regional support supplements for the elderly and children and will assure the payment of lease for needy families in order to mitigate the austerity measures," stressed Piedade Lalanda.

Speaking at the Legislative Assembly during the debate of the proposal for the Regional Annual Plan and the Regional Budget for 2014, the Regional Secretary also stressed the maintenance of the Government's support to social partners.

"While the financial support to social partners is being reduced nationwide, the representatives of regional Private Social Solidarity Institutions and "Santas Casas da Misericórdia" based in the Azores have signed a Base Agreement with the Regional Secretariat for Social Solidarity," stressed the government official.

Piedade Lalanda noted that this is "the first of its kind in the history of cooperation between the Government and regional institutions," adding that "it standardises the funding model for the collaboration between the Government and Institutions. The agreement defines the rules of this new funding model in participatory, transparent and conscious process since the main concerns are the fairness and equity in the Government's relation with all social partners involved, the sustainability of social responses provided to Azorean citizens and the maintenance of jobs."

The signing of this Base Agreement was the result of "negotiation and dialogue," which the Government has never avoided. According to Piedade Lalanda, this agreement has allowed the "clarification of doubts as well as the identification of common goals and differences of opinion, thus preventing political interpretations of legal norms."

"By promoting dialogue, we were able to reach a consensus regarding the definition of a default value table that was sent this month for publication under the Legislative Order on Costumer-Value Cooperation Contracts," said the government official.

With regard to Social Solidarity and Housing, the plan for 2014, according to Piedade Lalanda, embodies "a policy that focuses on the fight against social inequalities." In this context, the government official emphasised that "the proposed investment for housing will be based on this guideline." In 2014, the investment in this area will be reinforced in terms of support measures for social housing rental programmes and cooperation, registering an increase of 50 percent compared to 2013.
 
Also in the area of housing, the Regional Secretary highlighted the reinforcement of the support to urban recovery and renewal by 27 percent, which corresponds to an increase of 4.5 million Euros.

With these measures, she said, the Government of the Azores "aims to increase the disposable income of households, promote local development and ensure the right to housing", particularly to the most vulnerable households, such as single parent families or needy families with children.

Moreover, the Regional Secretary also revealed that in the context of housing policies, 100 houses will be allocated on a lease scheme with a purchase option, through public application, in 2014. This initiative "embodies a commitment announced in the beginning of this legislative period," which will privilege young couples." It also provides an increase of support to single parent families and families with disabled members."

Piedade Lalanda assured that the Regional Government will continue investing in the renewal of degraded housing and urban renewal, thus carrying out the investment scheduled in the Regional Public Works Charter. In this regard, the government official pointed out the interventions in Terra Chã and the Nossa Senhora de Fátima Neighbourhood (known as Joaquim Alves) whose procedures will begin next year. These interventions represent an investment over three million Euros.

As for the network of social facilities, the Regional Secretary said the plan for 2014 will award priority status to elderly support by reinforcing the funds granted to the previous budget by 51 percent.

The Regional Secretary mentioned that the Government of the Azores will invest in the second phase of the renewal works of D. Pedro V Home on Terceira and Pico da Pedra Home on São Miguel as well as in the expansion of Piedade Home on Pico and the renewal of the Elderly Home on Corvo.

"In a context of demographic ageing, it is essential to ensure a quality response in terms of support services, either in home care, elderly homes or day centres," said Piedade Lalanda. The government official added that the 2014 Plan also provides the continuation of the senior tourism programme, an initiative that "gives senior citizens the opportunity of travelling and socializing, with clear benefits for active ageing."

In the area of childhood and youth, the Regional Secretary stressed the investments in the new day nurseries in Vila do Porto and Nordeste as well as in the renewal and improvement works of the Children's Centre "O Baloiço" and the kindergarten "O Carrocel" in Angra do Heroísmo. In addition, the Government will also invest in the adaptation of an urban space located in Ponta Delgada into a Free Time Occupation Centre run by Cáritas and the renewal works of the day nursery "O Castelinho" in Horta; the latter will be carried out in a partnership between the Regional Secretariat for Social Solidarity and the Regional Secretariat for Education.

The Regional Secretary also stressed that the Government of the Azores is "aware" of the austerity measures imposed by the National Government." Contrary to what is happening in Mainland Portugal, the Regional Government intends to reinforce proximity social measures to support families that are faced with the loss of income and lack of hope and have given up fighting. Once again, Piedade Lalanda recalled that the Plan provides, through the Regional Welfare Fund, the reinforcement of the funds to support families facing severe situations of economic instability" as well as the increase of 1.5 million Euros for the financial support to the operation of the Regional Network of Social Facilities."

As for people with special needs and other vulnerable groups, Piedade Lalanda stressed "the partnership and coordination work carried out by several partner associations in the provision of new responses, such as the Centre for Disabled People in Ponta Delgada or the definition of strategies to reinforce early intervention.  The investments in this area are also intended to improve skills and promote the employability for people with disabilities." According to the government official these interventions "will be reinforced under the next Community Support Framework."