The council's support comes through the municipal programme ‘Casa Feliz’ (Happy Home), which this year involves an investment of around €370,000. Compared to last year, there has been an increase in the support provided by the council – €355,000 in 2025 – and an increase in the number of households supported – 14 more.

It should be noted that the support is intended for families in financial need. It is divided into four levels - A, B, C and D -, which correspond to monthly support for 12 months in the amount of €125 (82 applicants), €95 (120 applicants), €65 (86 applicants) and €50 (70 applicants), respectively. 

The measure will be discussed at the municipal executive meeting on Thursday, 26 February. 

‘This support makes a difference in the lives of families in the municipality and is one of several measures we have in place to respond to the housing challenge,’ emphasises Mário Passos, Mayor of Vila Nova de Famalicão.

It should be noted that, since 2019, the Municipality of Famalicão has already helped more than 2,000 families to pay their housing rents, with an investment of over €2 million.

The application process for rent support is submitted by registering on the “Programa Casa Feliz – Apoio à Renda” (Happy Home Programme – Rent Support) platform at https://rendas.famalicao.pt. Recent changes to the Municipal Rent Support Regulations allow exceptional and duly justified applications to be submitted outside the normal application period, which usually runs from September to October. These applications for exceptional support can be submitted throughout the year, take effect from the month following the submission of the application and remain in force until the end of the corresponding calendar year.