The Regional Secretary for Social Solidarity assured in today the Regional Government's support to families in vulnerable situations. In this context, the government official emphasised the social policies pursued by the Government for the benefit of the Azorean population, including income support measures and lease support schemes.

Piedade Lalanda spoke at the Legislative Assembly in Horta during an urgent debate on the social situation in the Azores, stressing "citizens at the heart" of the policies developed by the Azorean Government.

"We will overcome the challenges brought by present times by investing in human capital and being aware of the path we have followed in the path and the future that lies ahead," stressed the government official.

In this context, the Regional Secretary for Social Solidarity stressed the fact that pensioners living in the Azores received, on average, over 700 Euros per year. Currently, there are 34 thousand elderly seniors benefiting from the Regional Pension Supplement, which represents an annual investment of over 25 million Euros.

According to Piedade Lalanda, the pension supplement is nowadays a "resource that the elderly may rely on. Despite the difficult context, this measure has been reinforced; its initial value has increased 20%."

"The elderly living in the Azores also have access to the Supplement for the Purchase of Medicine - COMPAMID, which represents an annual investment over a million Euros, the Regional Secretary said, adding that about 8,500 elderly benefit from this measure.

In her speech, Piedade Lalanda also highlighted the financial model that is currently in force in the Region. It allows institutions to become acquainted with the monthly allocation from public funds and it grants families "the right to social responses in childhood, old age or when they are most vulnerable."

"You can count on the Government's support in day nurseries, kindergartens or Free Time Occupation Centres when a sudden drop in the household income may jeopardise these social responses for children," said the Regional Secretary. In these specific cases, the Regional Government will pay the difference to social institutions.

The establishment of the number of available vacancies in different types of social institutions, ensured by public funding, was another measure emphasised by Piedade Lalanda.

Contrary to what happens in Mainland Portugal or Madeira, "the funding of social responses in the Azores does not change with regularity; it does not depend on the amount families can afford and the financial support allocated is higher than the national average."

 The Regional Secretary also mentioned that "the National Government reduces social benefits," which goes against the recommendations issued by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). In this context, the government official pointed out the reduction of transfers in the case of the Social Integration Income, which represented a decrease of 2.5 million Euros to support needy families.

"Each Azorean benefiting from this support measure receives an average of 65 Euros per month, i.e., just over two Euros per day," stated the government official. By strengthening the measures to tackle economic insecurity, the Regional Government has directly supported those who have pressing needs in about two million Euros per year.

Piedade Lalanda noted that a total of 182 thousand Euros are allocated on a monthly basis in direct support to families in order to "meet their basic needs." She reminded that "immediate support measures are not available in Mainland Portugal. One has to wait, on average, a month for the deferral of the economic support request and the amount allocated can hardly meet basic needs."

In the area of housing, the government official stressed that the Government supports over two thousand families under programmes.

Piedade Lalanda assured that "all citizens who turn to services at times of difficulty, some are already in very difficult situation, will receive a response once services confirm their situation."

In this context, the Regional Secretary noted that "the Regional Government provides immediate help in emergency cases," whilst ensuring the follow-up of supported families. Each situation is carefully analysed with the aim of helping to plan their future."

Piedade Lalanda also assured that the Regional Government wants to be the "response" to all those who feel uncomfortable requesting support from official entities to face difficulties," stressing that "there is always a possibility of mitigating them."