The Porta 65 Program (accessible housing) now supports youth of up to 35 years of age

Approved in mid-2017, the new affordable rental housing scheme for the young - the Porta 65 Program - will be in force from April, allowing youth of up to the age of 35 to apply for property rental support.

In addition to the age change - which will favour young families or people with disabilities - the implementation of the changes to the Porta 65 Program will also increase the average monthly percentage of income from 36 to 60 months.

These measures were approved in August 2017 at the Assembly of the Republic and stipulate that, in addition to people aged between 18 and 35 years of age, this support program may be extended to 37 year olds if one of the couples is within the initial age limit.

The extended measure in the age group of young people covered by this type of affordable housing support for the 35 year olds was foreseen in the project plans of various political parties and was put to the vote at the time of its approval with the unanimity of the PCP, BE, PSD and CDS-PP. Even so, with regard to the budget made available for the program, the PSD voted against it but with no effect on the outcome.

In order to implement the changes that have now been applied, the State Budget for 2018 increased the amount envisaged for this purpose to 18 million euros. Although it amounts to around EUR 3.5 million, this figure will still be insufficient to support all the housing applications from young people of the ages indicated.

Although it was launched in 2017, the Porta 65 program only applied to young people between the ages of 18 and 30. With the main objective of providing support to young people who wish to rent a property, the scheme pays a percentage of the monthly rent (a non-refundable amount) as Porta 65 will now be available to a wider age group.

By means of a valid application, and when the request for rental support is transferred to the young applicants, they will receive the same percentage for a period of 12 months and may also renew it, as we have said, up to five times without the amount exceeding 60 months.With the amendments proposed in August 2017, the scheme will be in force and implemented from April 2018. The number of beneficiaries covered by this housing support is now increasing.