The Regional Secretary for Social Solidarity said today in Horta that "investing in people is a way of reinforcing, strengthening and creating the conditions to fight the crisis."

"At a time of crisis, it is fundamental to assist those who are most in need and one must bear in mind that the disposable income of families allows them to live with dignity in a society struggling with difficulties," stressed Piedade Lalanda. The government official spoke to journalists after being heard by the Committee on Social Affairs on the proposed Regional Plan and Budget for 2014.

Accordingly, the Regional Secretary defended that a benefits culture does not bring dignity to social policies" as social policies promote "autonomy and the empowerment of people, either through the disposable income of families or the development of their personal, educational and training skills, among others."

Piedade Lalanda also highlighted that the 2014 Plan and Budget continue to reinforce "the disposable income of families." In this context, the government official mentioned several measures, including the Regional Family Allowance Supplement, the Regional Supplement for the Purchase of Medicine (COMPAMID), the Regional Pension Supplement, which will be reinforced in the 2014 Plan and Budget, and the lease support programmes.

According to the Regional Secretary, the main strategy developed by the Government for the elderly will combat isolation by "increasingly extending the reach of its programmes to the homes of the elderly."

Piedade Lalanda noted that these measures are intended to provide the elderly with "conditions that will enable them to remain in their homes," through the investment and reinforcement of home support services. In this regard, the Government also expects to extend this service throughout the week and link it to health care.

"We live in a society where, fortunately, the average life expectancy has increased," the Regional Secretary recalled, defending the importance of the elderly as "an important group" in the area of social intervention in the Azores.

In the area of childhood, Piedade Lalanda stressed the beginning of the renewal works of Castelinhos day nursery in the city of Horta and the existence of the network of free time occupation centres (ATL) across the archipelago, which will be turned into "a space focused on the promotion of school success."

"There is no doubt that these centres should become spaces to promote school success," stressed the Regional Secretary. These spaces should provide children with the opportunity of developing their skills in several areas
Regarding the area of disability, Piedade Lalanda emphasised the disability centre in Ponta, an initiative that is still at a project phase. This centre encompasses two associations that will share the same infrastructure, which "embodies the Government's spirit" in the promotion of "synergies and optimisation of resources."

According to the Regional Secretary, the investments in housing have undergone a "considerable reinforcement" in terms of lease support programmes."
"With the support to housing, today's families will have access to better housing conditions, being an important aspect of their family life," stressed the government official.

In addition to this measure, Piedade Lalanda stated that under the programme to support the acquisition of housing to rehouse families, the Government has made efforts to make it more accessible to needy families," a procedure that has been ongoing.

The Regional Secretary also underlined that this plan "clearly promotes the renewal and recovery of degraded housing, including family dwellings and the Region's housing heritage. According to her, the Government of the Azores wishes "to improve the housing conditions of the Azorean people."

Piedade Lalanda recalled that the Region has taken the commitment of building some allotments, assuring that it "will continue to comply with the expenditure set for 2014."