PS councilor Rui Caetano criticized the Regional Government President's proposal for high-rise housing construction, featuring twenty-story buildings. During the council meeting, Caetano described the alleged land scarcity as "a false issue and a pretext to mask five decades of PSD governments' incompetence in solving the housing problem."
The socialist argued that there is no guarantee these buildings will offer affordable apartments, emphasizing that Funchal lacks affordable prices, not housing units. He pointed to a lack of strategy and political will to intervene in the market, citing public lands like the Penha de França neighborhood, which remain undeveloped, while others like Quinta das Freiras and Ponte are only now being tendered.
Caetano also highlighted the potential for rehabilitating the Santa Maria neighborhood to double resident capacity and utilize vacant homes. He criticized the Regional Government for unfulfilled promises, such as the creation of over forty housing units in 2023, which have yet to be built. He concluded that the lack of housing solutions stems from a deficit in political determination and a preference for real estate speculation over citizens' right to housing.
