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Secretaria Regional da Juventude, Habitação e Emprego
Region recovering from decade of underinvestment in new housing solutions
Region recovering from decade of underinvestment in new housing solutions
Secretaria Regional da Juventude, Habitação e Emprego
New lease with purchase option scheme reduces burden on Azoreans seeking access to housing
New lease with purchase option scheme reduces burden on Azoreans seeking access to housing
Secretaria Regional da Juventude, Habitação e Emprego
Santa Clara neighbourhood with 22 new housing units
Santa Clara neighbourhood with 22 new housing units
July 4, 2025
Region recovering from decade of underinvestment in new housing solutions
June 18, 2025
New lease with purchase option scheme reduces burden on Azoreans seeking access to housing
June 2, 2025
Santa Clara neighbourhood with 22 new housing units
News
Welcome Note
Welcome to the Regional Directorate for Housing page!
The Regional Directorate for Housing (DRH) is the entity entrusted with the study, coordination, supervision and implementation of housing actions in accordance with the Regional Government's goals and in close collaboration with local authorities, public utility institutions, private entities or cooperatives, with a view to creating better housing conditions for the population.
It is the responsibility of the DRH to:
- Study, propose and implement housing policy measures for the Region;
- Propose uses for land classified as suitable for urban development and arrange for its acquisition;
- Study and propose measures aimed at restructuring the housing sector in the Region to meet its needs;
- Collaborate with any entity that may contribute to the implementation of the housing policy defined by the Regional Government on a permanent or temporary basis, especially with municipalities, voluntary organisations and non-profit associations, to which it may provide technical support or other types of support to be defined;
- Promote, in conjunction with other services, the study of housing legislation, with a view to drawing up concrete legislative proposals.
Welcome!
Nota de Imprensa
July 4, 2025
Region recovering from decade of underinvestment in new housing solutions
The Region is recovering from a decade of underinvestment in new housing solutions. This was an "irresponsible political choice" on the part of previous regional governments that led to the housing deficit in the regional public housing stock that is still evident in the Azores, amid significant pressure on demand. The announcement was made today by the Regional Secretary for Youth, Housing and Employment during the ceremony of laying the first stone for the construction of 12 new houses at Rua Calço da Má Cara in the parish of São Sebastião, an initiative promoted and implemented by the Municipality of Ponta Delgada under the RRP. “In Ponta Delgada, the largest municipality in the Azores, we found a situation of neglect, stalled projects, and political irresponsibility. What did we do? We decided to take action. And we are acting responsibly, courageously, and with solid results,” emphasised Maria João Carreiro. The Azorean Government is implementing more than 200 housing projects in the municipality of Ponta Delgada, including construction works, renovations and servicing of plots. They represent an overall investment (RRP and Regional Budget) of about 10 million Euros in parishes such as São Roque, Santa Clara, Arrifes, Covoada, Feteiras, Ginetes, Capelas, São Vicente Ferreira and Fenais da Luz. "Our action reaches the parishes near the city and those further away as this new regional housing policy does not tolerate hesitation or empty rhetoric: it is a policy that moves forward, transforms and puts people and families first," stressed the Regional Secretary. Maria João Carreiro also praised the “commitment, resilience and good work” of the Ponta Delgada City Council and its Mayor, Pedro Nascimento Cabral, in the municipal response to the housing challenges in Ponta Delgada and the “resulting cooperation” with the Regional Government to provide new houses. "On the part of the Municipality of Ponta Delgada, we have relied on a diligent, available and committed partner that understands the urgency of housing and has been instrumental in ensuring expeditious licensing as well as technical and institutional support for each project," she pointed out. According to the government official, "this partnership between the Government and the local authority is an example of how public policies should be conducted: responsibly, effectively and with a single goal - serving the people.
July 4, 2025
Region recovering from decade of underinvestment in new housing solutions
The Region is recovering from a decade of underinvestment in new housing solutions. This was an "irresponsible political choice" on the part of previous regional governments that led to the housing deficit in the regional public housing stock that is still evident in the Azores, amid significant pressure on demand. The announcement was made today by the Regional Secretary for Youth, Housing and Employment during the ceremony of laying the first stone for the construction of 12 new houses at Rua Calço da Má Cara in the parish of São Sebastião, an initiative promoted and implemented by the Municipality of Ponta Delgada under the RRP. “In Ponta Delgada, the largest municipality in the Azores, we found a situation of neglect, stalled projects, and political irresponsibility. What did we do? We decided to take action. And we are acting responsibly, courageously, and with solid results,” emphasised Maria João Carreiro. The Azorean Government is implementing more than 200 housing projects in the municipality of Ponta Delgada, including construction works, renovations and servicing of plots. They represent an overall investment (RRP and Regional Budget) of about 10 million Euros in parishes such as São Roque, Santa Clara, Arrifes, Covoada, Feteiras, Ginetes, Capelas, São Vicente Ferreira and Fenais da Luz. "Our action reaches the parishes near the city and those further away as this new regional housing policy does not tolerate hesitation or empty rhetoric: it is a policy that moves forward, transforms and puts people and families first," stressed the Regional Secretary. Maria João Carreiro also praised the “commitment, resilience and good work” of the Ponta Delgada City Council and its Mayor, Pedro Nascimento Cabral, in the municipal response to the housing challenges in Ponta Delgada and the “resulting cooperation” with the Regional Government to provide new houses. "On the part of the Municipality of Ponta Delgada, we have relied on a diligent, available and committed partner that understands the urgency of housing and has been instrumental in ensuring expeditious licensing as well as technical and institutional support for each project," she pointed out. According to the government official, "this partnership between the Government and the local authority is an example of how public policies should be conducted: responsibly, effectively and with a single goal - serving the people.
Nota de Imprensa
June 18, 2025
New lease with purchase option scheme reduces burden on Azoreans seeking access to housing
The new lease with purchase option scheme, recently approved by the Council of the Government, will contribute to reducing the burden on Azoreans in accessing housing, according to the Regional Secretary for Youth, Housing and Employment. This scheme will allow households, including young, middle-class and single-parent families, to benefit from the housing solutions being built under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) for the Azores and the Regional Budget at prices compatible with their income. This is the case of the 13 new single-family houses nearing completion in the São Brás housing development, municipality of Praia da Vitória, on Terceira Island – eight are two-bedroom houses, four are three-bedroom houses, and the other is a four-bedroom house – representing an investment of 2.1 million Euros, as confirmed by Maria João Carreiro during her visit to the site. On the occasion, the Regional Secretary also announced that a public tender is expected to be launched in August for the allocation of these new houses on a lease with purchase option scheme. The purchase option can only be exercised by the tenant one year after signing the lease agreement. According to Maria João Carreiro, 80% of the procedures for the construction and renovation of the 272 housing units under the RRP for Terceira Island, corresponding to an overall investment of 25.5 million Euros, have already been completed or are currently underway. This has been achieved "notwithstanding the significant technical and procedural work that needed to be done, and the constraints in the construction market." The government official explained that 53% of these new housing solutions in Terceira will be made available on a lease with purchase option scheme. "This Government has made a clear choice and is being consistent in implementing a new housing policy. It is fair, inclusive and appropriate not only to the serious housing shortages but also to social groups such as the middle class and young people, who today face greater difficulties in accessing housing," she stressed. As Maria João Carreiro stressed, "the Region could have more immediate responses if it had not been for the disinvestment of previous governments in housing construction and renovation, which led to shortages in the public housing stock." The visit to the São Brás housing development was attended by, among others, the Mayor of Praia da Vitória, Vânia Ferreira, members of the Azores Legislative Assembly, Nídia Inácio and Paulo Chaves, and the Regional Director for Housing, Daniel Pavão.
June 18, 2025
New lease with purchase option scheme reduces burden on Azoreans seeking access to housing
The new lease with purchase option scheme, recently approved by the Council of the Government, will contribute to reducing the burden on Azoreans in accessing housing, according to the Regional Secretary for Youth, Housing and Employment. This scheme will allow households, including young, middle-class and single-parent families, to benefit from the housing solutions being built under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) for the Azores and the Regional Budget at prices compatible with their income. This is the case of the 13 new single-family houses nearing completion in the São Brás housing development, municipality of Praia da Vitória, on Terceira Island – eight are two-bedroom houses, four are three-bedroom houses, and the other is a four-bedroom house – representing an investment of 2.1 million Euros, as confirmed by Maria João Carreiro during her visit to the site. On the occasion, the Regional Secretary also announced that a public tender is expected to be launched in August for the allocation of these new houses on a lease with purchase option scheme. The purchase option can only be exercised by the tenant one year after signing the lease agreement. According to Maria João Carreiro, 80% of the procedures for the construction and renovation of the 272 housing units under the RRP for Terceira Island, corresponding to an overall investment of 25.5 million Euros, have already been completed or are currently underway. This has been achieved "notwithstanding the significant technical and procedural work that needed to be done, and the constraints in the construction market." The government official explained that 53% of these new housing solutions in Terceira will be made available on a lease with purchase option scheme. "This Government has made a clear choice and is being consistent in implementing a new housing policy. It is fair, inclusive and appropriate not only to the serious housing shortages but also to social groups such as the middle class and young people, who today face greater difficulties in accessing housing," she stressed. As Maria João Carreiro stressed, "the Region could have more immediate responses if it had not been for the disinvestment of previous governments in housing construction and renovation, which led to shortages in the public housing stock." The visit to the São Brás housing development was attended by, among others, the Mayor of Praia da Vitória, Vânia Ferreira, members of the Azores Legislative Assembly, Nídia Inácio and Paulo Chaves, and the Regional Director for Housing, Daniel Pavão.