According to the proposed amendment to the operating rules for Lisbon's Social Emergency and Recovery Fund -- Support for Families (FES/RLX-AF), which Lusa had access to, the 24 parishes of the city will have close to 3.6 million euros to support families in 2024, compared to just 1.9 million euros in 2023.

According to clarifications sent to Lusa by the office of the councillor for Human Rights and Social Affairs, Sofia Athayde (CDS-PP), the increase aims to "reflect the increase in the price of goods and services".

At the same time, the fund now includes "a new eligible expense", food support in prepared meals, "to cope with the increases caused by growing inflation, reflecting a higher cost of living".

Among the eligible expenses that are being increased are support for rent or mortgage payments up to a limit of 1,050 euros, expenses for the education of minor or dependent children, and the amount of telecommunications support (from 25 to 30 euros).

Lisbon City Council (CML) is adding prepared meals to the list of eligible expenses, "as long as it can be proven that there are no other social responses in the parish".

The funding for food support in prepared meals, operated by the parish councils, is being increased, per family unit/year, from 1,500 to 2,000 euros and from 3,000 to 3,500 euros in exceptional cases (when the subsistence of minors, the elderly, or citizens with temporary or permanent disability of 60% or more is at stake).

The proposal, which was approved at Monday's council meeting, also includes an amendment that will allow the parish councils to request additional funding in advance.

In her clarifications to Lusa, councillor Sofia Athayde recalled that, under the current rules, the parish councils "requested additional funding when they ran out of funds, often ending up with a negative balance".

The proposal to increase the FES/RLX-AF to the exact amount of 3,567,813.71 euros will now be submitted for consideration and vote at the Lisbon Municipal Assembly, on a date yet to be announced.

"The proposed amendments were duly and timely debated and discussed with the 24 parishes of the city of Lisbon, in a participatory consultation process", said councillor Sofia Athayde.

The FES/RLX-AF is an exceptional and temporary support to be granted to needy families in a situation of serious housing emergency and/or emerging economic hardship, residing in the municipality of Lisbon.

Last year, the CML transferred 1.9 million euros in the context of the Social Emergency and Recovery Fund.

Of the 24 parishes of Lisbon, two (Areeiro and Beato) did not receive any funds, because they had a positive balance from the previous execution of the fund.

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