Lisbon City Council on Monday approved an almost doubling of the parish council support fund for families in need to €3.6 million. This proposal will now be presented to the Municipal Assembly.
According to the proposal to change the rules of the Lisbon Social Assistance and Rehabilitation Fund – Family Support Section (FES/RLX-AF), to which Lusa had access, the city’s 24 parishes will receive €3.6 million in immediate household support in 2024, then how in 2023 they only had 1.9 million euros.
According to clarifications sent to Lusa by the office of the Adviser for Human and Social Rights, Sophia Atayde (CDS-PP), the reinforcements are intended to “reflect rising prices of goods and services.”
At the same time, the fund began including “new eligible spending” food support in ready-to-eat meals, “to address the growth caused by rising inflation reflecting the higher cost of living.”
Among the allowed expenses that are increasing are support for rent or housing payments up to a limit of 1,050 euros, educational expenses for minors or dependent children, and the cost of telecommunications support (from 25 to 30 euros).
The Lisbon City Council (CML) is adding cooked food to the list of eligible expenses “if it can be proven that there are no other social measures in place in the parish.”
Funding for food support with prepared meals provided by parish councils is increased per household per year from 1500 to 2000 euros and from 3000 to 3500 euros in exceptional cases (when providing food for minors, elderly people or citizens with temporary or permanent disabilities equal to or exceeding 60% ).
The proposal approved at Monday’s council meeting also includes an amendment that would now allow parish councils to request funding increases in advance.
In her explanation to Luse, Councilor Sophia Atayde recalls that under the current rules, parish councils “appealed for top-ups when they ran out of funds, often ending up with a negative bill.”
The proposal to strengthen the FES/RLX-AF for the exact amount of €3,567,813.71 will now be submitted for consideration and vote in the Lisbon Municipal Assembly, at a date yet to be announced.
“The proposed changes were properly and timely discussed and worked out with the 24 wards of the city of Lisbon through a joint consultation process,” says councilor Sofia Atayde.
FES/RLX-AF is an exceptional and temporary support provided to needy households in a situation of serious housing problem and/or emerging economic need who live in the municipality of Lisbon.
Last year, CML contributed €1.9 million to the Social Assistance and Rehabilitation Fund.
Among the 24 parishes of Lisbon, two (Areiro and Beato) did not receive funds because they had a positive balance from the previous execution of the fund.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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