The Minister for Social Accommodation Roderick Galdes has launched the second call for specialised housing for NGOs, foundations, groups and religious institutions as well as citizen groups who join forces to provide a service within these houses. This is a €1 million investment.
Four dilapidated state-owned properties in Valletta, Birkirkara and San Ġwann will be used for this project, Galdes said during a press conference on Monday morning.
He explained that the government is allocating this amount of money for this project after the success that they had with other pilot projects that took place last year wherein dilapidated locations in Bormla and Birgu – Dar Terry and Dar Bla Ħitan – were renovated and are receiving specialised service from Richmond Foundation and mid-Dlam għad-Dawl.
“With these projects we are addressing specific needs that particular cohorts within our society might have,” Glades said. “We are not only making use of state-owned property that has been abandoned for years, but also opening our doors for ideas that NGOs need help with realising.”
This is a step towards moving away from a housing strategy that is one-size-fits-all as individual needs must he addressed just like the needs of the masses, he added.
Housing Authority Chairperson Rachel Scicluna said that the concept of home goes beyond its infrastructure as it is the place at the centre of everyone’s life; a cultural symbol based on values, aspirations and memories.
“With this perspective in mind, the Board created a modern methodology that refurbishes abandoned or vacant homes so that it can breathe life into the community,” she said. “This is a method based on collaboration with the government, public entities like the Chamber of Architects as well as with citizens themselves. In this way, we can maintain a sustainable perspective and stay connected with the needs of our contemporary society.”
Head of the Housing Authority Leonid McKay explained that we have to acknowledge that there are people for whom a key and roof on top of their head is not enough as they have other needs.
“These people deserve continuous support, personalised to their needs. This is a concept that is shedding new light into our vision for specialised housing dedicated for NGOs,” he said.
He explained that this collaboration is important because it provides after-care services for those individuals that make use of the buildings that will be refurbished through this project; much like the 2019 project with Richmond Foundation and mid-Dlam għad-Dawl which cares for individuals that are reintegrating into society after coming out of the Cordin Correctional Facility.
The design for these buildings will be decided on through an international competition hosted by the Chamber of Architects; an initiative which the government is taking in order to show the importance of promoting home designs that cater for the needs of those who will use it.
Applications for this project have opened today (15 June) and will close in 6 July. Anyone who is interested can access further information on the Housing Authority website; housingauthority.gov.mt