Homelessness in Malta is on the up, the PN has said, noting that the Labour government has forgotten about those who are in need.
"From a Labour's 2013 promise to eradicate poverty to today, nobody can deny that the situation has worsened", the PN said in a statement on Tuesday.
The statement, which is signed by PN Deputy Leader for Parliamentary Affairs David Agius and Opposition spokesperson for Social Accommodation and Loneliness Ivan Bartolo, highlights that the Labour Government has forgotten about those individuals who are in need.
"The difference between the rich and the poor is constantly increasing, and today there is greater need for financial aid and food banks for those who are not meeting their daily demands."
83,000 people are at risk of poverty, and 25% of those are over the age of 65. 50% are families with parents at risk of poverty, the PN noted.
The statement highlighted that the Nationalist Party has criticised the Labour Government over the fact that it has not extended the measures to help families when it comes to rent. "The PN continues to ask the government what exactly their plans are for those individuals who end up without a roof over their head? When will we invest more in shelters for these families, pensioners and individuals?"
The PN statement makes a connection to the man who was found dead in his car in Birkirkara to those who are in need of financial support by the Government.
"The death of a man found in his car in Birkirkara shows that those in need of a roof, food and other basic necessities are not going to receive aid from the Government. It shows how much the government has the obligation to provide service to all, but instead is failing to provide that service to the worker who wants to provide for himself or his family, to that mother who has to cope with life alone, to the children who have a right to a serene life and to those pensioners whose monthly pensions are not enough for them."
The Nationalist said that instead of finalising social housing projects, providing shelters and coming up with social measures to help everyone, over the past seven years the Labour Government has wasted time, leading to more and more people being stuck in a cycle of poverty.
The Nationalist Party said that it will continue working hard to ensure no one is left out or without any help. "Unlike the Labour Government, there is no need for PR, advertising or cameras to work and there is no need to have an election for people to think about the basic needs of human beings."