The Chega Madeira party has raised concerns about immigrants accessing housing managed by Investimentos Habitacionais da Madeira (IHM), alleging the presence of "housing units occupied by immigrants, mostly of Indian subcontinent origin" in areas like Santo Amaro and Santa Quitéria, Funchal.
Party leader Hugo Nunes stated that social housing "must serve those who live here, work, and respect the law." National legislation, specifically Law No. 81/2014, allows national citizens and foreigners with valid residency permits to access supported housing, provided they meet other legal requirements.
Nationality is not a priority criterion in the legislation, which prioritizes factors such as income, age, disability, dependents, housing situation, and length of residence. IHM's social housing and reduced-rent programs also do not prioritize nationality.
Chega Madeira also suggested potential issues like "usurpation of public property," "illegal subletting," or improper allocation of units. However, access to housing and the occupation of a unit are distinct matters, with IHM regulations strictly prohibiting subletting and requiring units to be occupied only by the authorized household.
