E/C.12/PRT/CO/4 The Committee draws the attention of the State party to its statement concerning poverty and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (E/C.12/2001/10) and recommends that the State party strengthen its efforts to combat poverty, in particular among households with dependent children, persons aged under 65 years, children and unemployed persons by, inter alia: (a) Addressing, in its post-crisis economic and social efforts, the gaps in social protection coverage and the adequacy of benefits, and ensuring that the social assistance system targets effectively those at high risk of poverty; (b) Adjusting the social support index in line with the evolving needs of the recipients, with a view to reducing income inequalities and eventually eliminating the adverse impact of austerity measures on the enjoyment of the right to an adequate standard of living; (c) Raising progressively the reference threshold of the guaranteed minimum income scheme (Rendimento Social de Inserção), with a view to increasing the number of eligible beneficiaries. Access to adequate and affordable housing for Roma 15. The Committee is concerned that a large number of Roma continue to live in substandard housing conditions, often in informal settlements consisting of barracks, shacks or tents, many of them in isolated areas, with little or no public transportation, and without access to basic services, such as safe drinking water or sanitation facilities, electricity or waste disposal facilities. The Committee is also concerned that the living conditions of Roma in social housing are often inadequate, that waiting lists for social housing are long and that many Roma do not meet the requirements for access to social housing through the Special Rehousing Programme as those eligible were identified through a census of informal Roma settlements conducted in 1993 (arts. 2, para. 2; and 11). The Committee recommends that the State party step up its efforts, including in the framework of the National Strategy for the Integration of Roma Communities for the period 2013–2020, to ensure access to adequate housing and basic services for Roma and facilitate their integration with the general population. To that end, the State party should: (a) Conduct a new census of informal Roma settlements and revise accordingly the list of those eligible for social housing through the Special Rehousing Programme; (b) Provide for resources that are proportionate to the unmet need for social housing, and for appropriate forms of financial housing support, such as rental subsidies. Evictions as a consequence of the financial and economic crisis 16. The Committee is concerned at evictions as a consequence of mortgage and rent arrears. The Committee notes in that regard the measures taken by the State party to address those issues, including the adoption of a legal framework for the prevention and settlement of arrears on credit agreements with household customers and the creation of a Property Investment Fund for Rental Housing (art. 11, para. 1). The Committee recommends that the State party be guided by human rights standards in tackling the problem of mortgage and rent arrears, with due account for individuals’ rights to adequate housing. The State party should ensure that legal aid is available to borrowers in the process of negotiation with credit institutions and that a possibility for an effective remedy is in place. The State party should also dedicate 6