The Minister for Accommodation and Lands, Owen Bonnici, has announced that a convent located in Kirkop will be converted into an affordable co-living residence. This project is set to assist 15 people at a time, will include a night shelter and a clinic, and is forecasted to cost €1.6 million to carry out.

This project is being undertaken through a collaboration between the Ministry for Accommodation and Lands, the Foundation for Affordable Housing (FAH), and the Archdiocese of Malta. This will be the FAH's first co-living residence project.

The Ministry for Accommodation and Lands stated on Monday that "this project will create a new opportunity for people who wish to live independently and affordably, while continuing to benefit from the support and sense of belonging offered by the community."

Through this project, a convent located at the heart of Kirkop will be renovated and adapted to become a co-living residence. The Ministry said that this residence will be designed in a manner that gives its residents the private space and independence they need while offering them access to several shared spaces and facilities. These spaces will be "professionally managed to ensure a safe, organised, and quality environment."

Following consultation with the Kirkop community, this project shall include a night shelter for the local elderly and a clinic that will be open to the public.

"These facilities will further strengthen the residence's role as a space that not only provides affordable housing, but also responds to the community's wider needs," the Ministry said.

Accommodation Minister Owen Bonici remarked that this project places the person and the community at its core, while offering affordable housing, independence, and a sense of belonging.

"This is a concrete example of how we can use the spaces we have to create more opportunities and, simultaneously, strengthen our communities," Minister Bonnici said.

Michael Pace Ross, the Archdiocese of Malta's Administrative Secretary, mentioned that the concept of co-living addresses the problem of loneliness whilst helping to build a community. He added that "While co-living bolsters solidarity in the community, it also gives residents the opportunity to plan their future steps in their life journey when it comes to housing."

The Foundation's CEO, Jake Azzopardi, noted that this project looks to prove how existing buildings can be given new life and purpose to address today's social and residential needs.

Azzopardi shared that this is just the beginning, as the private sector has been given the opportunity to join similar projects in recent weeks. He said that there were several proven entities, which have vacant or underutilised properties, that showed interest in this public call to carry out similar projects.