In a press conference at the HA premises yesterday, chairman Marisa Micallef Leyson said that separated parents with children, married couples, engaged couples, people over the age of 30 and single people over 18 who are disabled will all qualify for the grant scheme.

The scheme is different for people with a different status.

Married and engaged couples, separated parents with children and the disabled will be given a Lm2,500 grant for brand new properties and Lm3,000 for old properties. Single people will be given Lm1,000 and Lm1,500 for brand new and old properties respectively.

Ms Micallef Leyson said that the HA was facing up to the reality that not everyone wanted to get married nowadays.

Speaking about separated parents with children, Mrs Micallef Leyson said: “Although they will not meet the criterion of the ‘first’ home, it will still be available to them.” Ms Micallef Leyson said that the number of separated families was on the increase and it was therefore important to address these changes and to ensure that no one is discriminated against, even if inadvertently.

“It is also a reality that many single people who suffered a disability or mental health problems want to lead independent lives and set up lives of their own,” she said.

She continued, “And it is also important to recognise that not everyone gets married, but this does not mean there should not be help on offer for those who choose to remain single but who are helping themselves by buying their own property in the private sector.”

Ms Micallef Leyson said the HA did not want to be seen as offering bargains, but rather as reaching those who need it most. She said that last year, the HA spent Lm800,000 on the care and repair scheme.

Family and Social Solidarity Minister Dolores Cristina, who was also present, said that it was important for services to reflect society’s changing needs. “While only some years ago, disabled people seemed to need to feel protected, we now see that for many independence has taken on added value,” she said.

She continued, “Our social scenario is also changing and these services need to be accessible to people who have gone through the separation process and their children, as well as over 30’s singles.” Mrs Cristina concluded, “Unfortunately there are still people who have not yet realised that they can benefit from HA schemes.”