Azorean Government increases housing support for young people - Communication

Secretaria Regional da Juventude, Habitação e Emprego

The Investment Plan for 2026 in the areas of Youth, Housing and Employment restates "the Azorean Government's commitment to continue working for the personal development of the Azorean people, for social justice and for the strengthening of the economy," stated today the Regional Secretary for Youth, Housing and Employment.

Overall, there is €148.4 million, €33 million more than in 2025, to "continue implementing a transformative governance agenda that is generating improvements in the lives of families and businesses," stated Maria João Carreiro at the Legislative Assembly of the Azores in Horta during the presentation of the Plan and Budget for 2026.

In the area of Youth, the Regional Government will invest two million Euros to promote "a culture of personal investment by young people in their civic and social education," through volunteering, socio-professional occupation, entrepreneurship, or mobility.

Support for youth associations will be increased by €75,000, for a global investment of €545,000, and public investment in creativity, inclusion and literacy will be increased by €110,000, totalling €640,000 next year.

Maria João Carreiro assured the continuation of the “+ Youth” package, a unique programme in the Region designed to attract and retain young talent, under which about half a million Euros has already been invested to date in the "Salary Promotion Measure" and "Return Home" initiatives.

In the area of housing, public investment will amount to €65.6 million in 2026, representing an increase of 72.3% compared to 2025, "with a view to continuing to promote housing solutions" for different situations and age groups, as well as "supporting young people in accessing housing solutions."

"We are committed to completing the ongoing implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) and to ensuring that this investment produces tangible results for the well-being and quality of life of the Azorean people," she said, NOTING that all RRP procedures for the 767 housing solutions have already been launched, representing an overall investment of € 65 million.

Maria João Carreiro also announced that, next year, the maximum income coefficients for applicants for serviced plots granted by the Region for housing construction will be revised to cover a young couple with two children and a gross monthly income of €3,100 or a young couple with one child and a gross monthly income of €2,850, who were previously excluded.

Support is also provided in the form of non-repayable financial contribution for the acquisition of architectural and specialties projects up to a maximum limit of €5,000 per beneficiary.

The support for self-build projects on plots provided by the Region or on private land will increase by 25%. This will allow a young couple with two children and a gross monthly income of €2,500, for example, to benefit from support of up to €21,000, instead of the current €16,500, she said.

In 2026, the Azorean Government will also maintain the 20% increase in lease incentives and the 50% increase in sublease incentives, confirming that this is a government that “boosts housing support when families need it most, and promotes more and better housing solutions.”

As for Vocational Training and Employment, public investment next year will total €79 million, which is €5.8 million more than in the Investment Plan for 2025.

Maria João Carreiro pointed out that the Region currently has full employment, with record highs in the employed population. For this reason, the focus of public intervention will continue to be on training the unemployed for the labour market, promoting occupations and improving job quality.

On this basis, the Regional Secretary assured the continuity of CONTRATAR, a measure aimed at encouraging job stability and salaries matching workers' qualifications, including young people, "who now find in public employment policies a stimulus to their development rather than precariousness."

Next year, a new measure will be implemented within the scope of the Social Employment Market, namely the SER+ measure, which supports the development of socially useful activities.  It is aimed at unemployed people registered with the Training and Employment Centre as well as Social Integration Income beneficiaries, stated the government official.  

Investment in vocational training is being increased by €5.8 million, totalling €35 million,  to continue promoting access for Azoreans, young people and adults, employed and unemployed, to training and skills tailored to the needs of our economy in a year when we will see the completion of the new Azores Training Centre.

Related press release: Speech by the Regional Secretary for Youth, Housing and Employment