Constructing the future for social housing

Setting housing policies is all about solving people's problems. So simple a fact and yet so often surpassed as simplistic. Because often housing policies are established with so many thousands of liri targeted at a particular area. While this is necessary to give substance to a housing incentive, it is nonetheless the social and psychological impact that should be the driving force behind social housing.

Social housing should target people with housing problems. Whether we like it or not, some people in Malta do live in substandard houses. Needless to say, this deprives them from living an adequate life. For instance, how can a family with five children live in a rented four-room house and manage to give these children an adequate education?

Given limited finances, this family cannot afford to enjoy basic commodities like clothing, education or a TV. Their mind is always set on how to cope with limited finances. This is an excellent example of a family in need of social housing. I say "excellent" with a sad tone because such a situation is clearly not desirable. Yet reality proves otherwise.

Cases such as this are not uncommon. A few years back, Riccardo Cesare from Floriana died as a direct result of structurally unsafe housing. This can no longer be tolerated. While building techniques have today improved considerably, substandard housing remains a reality. Social housing should be the solution to this problem.

Government should implement social housing policies that target families and individuals living in structurally unsafe or inadequate houses lacking basic facilities such as sanitation. In fact, social housing should ensure that all people have access to affordable housing with the basic necessities of life; people with limited income should not be discriminated against by the high market house prices but should be entitled to appropriate subsidies.

Obviously, any loopholes that may turn social housing into a profit-making business should be closed - whoever buys property under a social housing scheme should be disallowed from selling his property for a predetermined number of years, say, five. Also, this property would not be sold at a price considerably higher than the purchase price.

These measures are necessary to keep social housing solely for people with housing needs rather than having these people's interests sacrificed to the greed of property speculators.

In view of the numerous vacant properties around the island, the government may design a scheme to buy these properties from the private sector and use them for social housing purposes. Where the property is in a derelict state, the owners may repair the property at a subsidised rate, on condition that it is later sold to Government.

Alternatively, it may be rented out to persons in need of social housing, as specified by the government, at a subsidised rate, but with the government paying the difference between market rent and subsidised rent to the private owner.

These schemes will hit two birds with one stone: providing social housing while reducing vacant properties around the island.

Social housing should also target particular areas which especially have housing problems - cities like Valletta, Cospicua and Vittoriosa have a number of families that have learnt to live in substandard housing for years, often giving up trying to live in better conditions. This not only creates problems for these families but also for these historic cities' reputation.

Local councils in these cities may be given grants by the central government to be utilised specifically for improving residential properties. This will probably help to shift the trend of people wanting to move out of these cities.

There is clearly a need to improve social housing in Malta. The number of families who still live in substandard housing is indeed considerable and should therefore be addressed comprehensively through effective social housing schemes.

Clearly, the quality of housing influences the standard of living enjoyed by inhabitants in terms of education, career motives as well as physical and psychological well-being. The objectives we set for future social housing will therefore be a reflection of tomorrow's standard of living.