Benfica Parish Announces Allocation of 19 Affordable Rental Homes via Public Lottery
A community organization announcement from the Benfica Parish Council, in partnership with the Lisbon Municipality, has confirmed the allocation of 19 homes under the Affordable Rent Program (PRA). This initiative represents a significant community improvement aimed at tackling the housing shortage in the Lisbon neighborhood. The description of the community changes involves making parish-owned properties available to residents at below-market rates. The homes, which range from studios to two-bedroom apartments, are located on Rua Cláudio Nunes, Estrada do Calhariz de Benfica, and Travessa José Agostinho de Macedo. The changes will directly benefit the 19 selected families by providing them with secure and affordable housing, which in turn is expected to improve their quality of life and financial stability. The community involvement in this process was massive, with 4,680 official applications being submitted for the lottery, demonstrating the immense public demand for such solutions. The funding and resource allocation for the renovation of these properties came from the national Recovery and Resilience Program (PRR), showcasing a strategic use of EU funds to address local needs. The implementation timeline has now moved to the documentation phase, with the selected candidates required to submit their paperwork via the Habitar Lisboa platform within five business days. This initiative is expected to have a positive, albeit localized, impact on property values by demonstrating a commitment to maintaining a diverse and stable community. Similar initiatives are being carried out in other parishes across Lisbon, though the scale often falls short of the demand. The community response has been overwhelmingly positive, although many unsuccessful applicants have expressed frustration with the scarcity of available homes. The parish has not yet detailed ongoing maintenance and sustainability plans for these specific properties, but they fall under the general management of the council. Future community development priorities will likely include seeking further funding to expand the affordable housing stock. Discover emerging areas and local opportunities at realestate-lisbon.com.
