The government is aiming to reduce the waiting list for social housing by between 15% and 20% by the year 2035, Social and Affordable Accommodation Minister Roderick Galdes stated during a press conference.
This aim, he said, can be achieved through proactive policy which looks after the needs of the Maltese and Gozitan people. He added that from 2018 to 2024, the national waiting list was reduced by almost half, as he remarked that this was possible with continuous work in the sector and through substantial investment.
During the conference, which the Social and Affordable Accommodation Ministry said was organised with the aim of bringing together social partners in the housing sector to d discuss what has been achieved and what is being done, Minister Galdes said that Vision Malta 2050 has the quality of life of the people as its main principle.
Galdes continued that in the context of Vision Malta 2050’s principles, the social and affordable housing sector is one of the pillars of Maltese society. He said that one of the main goals is that of more social housing projects.
The minister said that 514 new units were allocated during 2024, with the units found in various localities such as Msida, Siggiewi, Bormla, Qrendi, Haz-Zebbug, Hal-Luqa, and Hal-Kirkop. He added that work is currently underway on projects in Siggiewi, Qrendi, Mellieha, Bormla, and Hal-Farrug. He described the ongoing project as “the largest social housing project in the country”, and said that it will include around 267 apartments and 300 parking spaces with an investment of €40 million.
He said that 1,391 families were helped to become homeowners between 2017 and 2023, with an investment of more than €52 million. The ministry stated that around one family every two days became homeowners through the use of various schemes. Galdes added that through an investment of €18 million, around 5,700 families benefited from rental subsidies in 2024, and more than 66,000 rental contracts were registered under the new 2020 law by the end of 2024.
The conference was also addressed by Housing Authority CEO Matthew Zerafa and Housing Europe Secretary General Sorcha Edwards.