Graciosa's young people caught between low wages and a lack of affordable housing

Leaving home without leaving the island, a growing challenge

Finding rental housing at a price compatible with local wages is a growing concern in Santa Cruz da Graciosa.

Wages tied to farming and fishing

Wages lag behind the archipelago average, pushing young people towards Terceira or the mainland.

Inherited houses, but not always liveable

Many young people are co-heirs to shuttered family homes they lack the means to renovate.

Municipal initiatives still tentative

There are no specific schemes comparable to those on larger islands such as São Miguel or Terceira.

A rental market that is virtually non-existent

In Santa Cruz da Graciosa, the number of homes that come up for rent in a year can be counted on one hand. The low turnover reflects both the island's size and the custom of keeping homes within the family. Agents who also operate on Terceira receive barely any instructions from Graciosa.

Terceira, the natural destination for those who leave

Its proximity and good sea links with Terceira make it the preferred destination for young people who cannot find housing on their own island. Many combine the move with studies or jobs that don't exist on Graciosa, which makes returning harder. The demographic drain worries authorities already aware of the island's shrinking working-age population.

Inherited houses that require unaffordable investment

A good many young people are co-heirs to shuttered family homes that would need considerable investment to become liveable again. The need for agreement among heirs, coupled with a lack of funds, leaves these houses in a limbo they rarely emerge from. Other Azorean islands have specific renovation grants that Graciosa still lacks.

A gap with the larger islands

Unlike São Miguel or Terceira, Graciosa has no youth housing programmes of its own, owing to its small size and limited resources. Residents' associations are calling for specific attention from the Regional Government for the smaller islands. Without programmes of their own, young people depend almost entirely on what their families can offer.