Portimão Câmara is helping 1,982 needy families pay their household bills. The families, who applied for social assistance in 2012, represent an additional 526 requests for help on 2011.
Pedro Poucochinho, head of the Portimão Mayor’s office, told Lusa news agency: “There has been a substantial increase in the number of requests for help by mainly the unemployed, who lack the financial resources to pay monthly bills.”
He said that 50% of the funds go to pay household bills, 35% go toward medication and 15% to buy food.
To help impoverished families with their household bills alone, the câmara has to have €50,000 available each month to cover 50% of the total expenses. The remainder has to be paid for by the families.
According to Portimão Câmara, rising unemployment is responsible for deteriorating living conditions, with more families expected to apply for social assistance this year.
