The number of persons on the social housing waiting list has almost halved. In 2017 there were 3,288 people on the waiting list, today it has decreased by more than 42% to 1,900 people, explained Minister for Social Accommodation Roderick Galdes.

He went on to say that this progress was registered before the commencement of the allocation of new social accommodation units.

The Minister said that prevention was the most influential factor behind the decrease in the number of people on this waiting list. In comparison to the 580 new applications received in the year 2017, there were only 238 new applications in 2020.

“This means we have provided sufficiently effective services which have prevented families from becoming dependent on the state,” he added.

Minister Galdes went on to say that among the initiatives taken there is the strengthening of the rent benefit, which is improving the situation of 2,900 families living in rented accommodation by ensuring that they do not pay more than a quarter of their income on rent, while there are over 800 homes that have been repaired and more than 500 other homes which have been adapted to be more accessible to those facing mobility challenges as well as persons with disabilities.

As a result of social loans (also known as the ‘Home Assist’ scheme), approximately 160 families which were eligible for social accommodation have now become homeowners.

He said that, by the end of June, approximately 571 social housing units will be allocated from the existing stock, while another 240 solutions have been found through properties that the Housing Authority rents from private owners.

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