Lisbon takes another (small) step toward affordable housing for young people

Lisbon's city council has taken another step toward providing affordable housing for young residents. The council approved a tender to allocate 25 homes under an affordable rental scheme for individuals aged 18 to 35.

This measure is part of the "De Volta ao Bairro" (Back to the Neighborhood) program, announced last year by Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas. The program aims to make 700 housing units available under these conditions over the next few years. The tender will be managed through the 39th call for applications under the Affordable Rent Program (PRA).

Moedas stated that this program offers a concrete response to a key objective of his administration: increasing the supply of affordable housing, particularly for young people. He added that the program encourages generational renewal in neighborhoods, maintains social and community bonds, and helps preserve the identity of historic areas.

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with this program the chamber launches “more than a concrete response to fulfill one of the great objectives that have guided the action of this executive: to increase the supply of affordable housing in the city, particularly that which is intended for the youngest”.

The 25 apartments are located in municipal housing within historic and established parts of the city, including Arroios, Avenidas Novas, Campo de Ourique, Lumiar, Misericórdia, Santa Maria Maior, Santo António, and São Domingos de Benfica. To be eligible, young applicants must reside or have resided in the parish where the housing is located, as stipulated by the "De Volta ao Bairro" regulations.

This marks the second batch of homes under this program. The first, approved in September 2025, offered 102 municipal units in the city center. However, those units had different eligibility criteria, not requiring residency in Lisbon, a condition that was initially proposed but later removed after opposition from council members.

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The program promotes generational renewal of neighborhoods, preserves social, family and community ties and contributes to the safeguarding of the identity of our historic territories.