According to Movijovem, university students will still be able to live in youth hostels, and the number of available units will increase from 19 to 22.
The protocol on the resumption of cooperation between the government, Movijovem and INATEL, which will allow the transfer of 673 beds from youth hostels and 36 beds from the INATEL network, will be signed on Wednesday, the note says.
According to Movijovem, the program will be available in branches in Aveiro, Abrantes, Almada, Beja, Bragança, Castelo Branco, Coimbra, Évora, Faro, Guarda, Guimarães, Lisbon Centro, Lisbon Parque das Populaires, Oeiras, Portimão, Portalegre, Porto, Santa Cruz, Viana do Castelo, Ponte de Lima, Vila do Conde and Vila Nova de Cerveira.
This program, integrated into the National Higher Education Housing Plan, aims to alleviate the shortage of student housing options in various regions of the country.
According to student representatives, the issue of housing is one of the biggest problems for displaced university students, with average rents being €386 in Porto and €480 in Lisbon.
According to the results of a study on the socio-economic and academic conditions of students in higher education, conducted and financed by the Directorate-General for Higher Education, housing accounts for the largest share of young people’s monthly bills.