The opposition spokesman on housing, Roderick Galdes, said social housing should go beyond the concept of shelter and ensure that the person's dignity was respected through the provision of a home, enabling them to improve their own and their family's standard of living. The government had departed from the concept of social housing, but today's reality still indicated a demand and a need for social housing.
Speaking during the debate on the Housing Authority's financial estimates, Mr Galdes noted that the report presented by the Housing Authority failed to identify and to indicate the impact that the rent reform would have on the demand for social housing, and that Minister Dalli had not indicated a financial allocation for the expected increase in demand. The report also failed to address such situations and did not provide schemes in this regard. He criticised the change of policy and the suspension of housing schemes which had been publicised before the general election and suspended thereafter, leaving a number of families disappointed.
Schemes had been stopped with immediate effect without any public notice, such as the scheme for persons with disability. While appreciating the need for a review of schemes, he augured that this would not be carried out by the withdrawal of such schemes, thereby excluding the chances of people in need.
Mr Galdes said poverty in Malta was relative and invisible, but existed nonetheless. Such relative poverty was consequent to inequalities in family income, which could be calculated by considering the level of accessibility to housing, health services and education of such families.
He criticised the situation whereby more than 2,000 persons had been on the Housing Authority's waiting list for over five years, because the housing stock currently available was insufficient to meet the demand. This situation was unacceptable.
Historically it had been Labour administrations that always invested in the provision of housing to ensure improvement in family standards of living. This had also helped to develop such families' level of education. It was incorrect to suspect that all families that sought assistance were abusing the system of the distribution of the common wealth.
The government must take decisions that reflected the reality that families faced, and consider the crisis brought about by the heavy increase in the price of property. In this regard the element of affordability was to be considered when one examined the changes taking place in the social structure and culture, because it was difficult for families to buy properties when their economic situation was not sustainable.
Mr Galdes criticised the Housing Authority for defaulting in offering social assistance to those in need, and for equating social assistance with economic viability. The imposition of rent amounting to 12 per cent of a family's income was not tantamount to social assistance, but reflected the calculation of rent on economic considerations for the authority. This led to a lack of social conscience, especially when it threatened such tenants with eviction.
The Housing Authority was autonomous and its primary aim was to safeguard the common good. But when the authority contacted applicants for social housing just before election time this showed that it was spurred by political allegiances. Moreover, it had failed a number of localities such as Valletta, Floriana and Cottonera, while it was incorrect for persons to be asked to migrate to other localities in which they could not integrate. Community involvement also required the integration of persons within that new community.
The payment of subsidies every six months to those qualifying families seriously affected their financial sustainability, creating more hardship. A review of this policy was called for.
Mr Galdes said that it was disappointing that the housing maintenance department, which had worked efficiently, was in shambles.
The authority should provide a better, more efficient and more effective service by improving its customer care services, as well as the e-government services it offered through its website.
The concept of urban regeneration was to be given utmost importance to ensure that persons were not asked to take up residence in zones that did not provide basic services, such as the Ħal Farruġ housing estate.
When, in 1996, the then Labour government had spoken of the intention of considering property already on the market, rather than building new apartments, there had been uproar in Parliament. Today the government had come up with public-private partnerships. It did not make sense not to involve the private sector to reduce impact.
Unfortunately the Housing Authority still did not have sufficient synergy, even with local councils, to fulfil projects. The authority had to be flexible.
Speaking of elevators in government apartment blocks, he said the report showed that seven had been built in a year, and five others were being built. Considering the problems of an ageing population, the need for a lift in government apartments was becoming greater. The authority's initiatives were good, but not enough.
Mr Galdes said energy-efficient buildings had to be the norm, not still a pilot project. The government had to set an example in the sector, but buildings were still built in the traditional way.
The Labour policy began with the basic premise that everyone should be able to buy or rent housing within their budget. It was unfortunate that despite economic advancement, there were still families that this did not apply to. There had to be a target to provide housing, for rent or purchase, at reasonable prices.
Mr Galdes said it was important to fight homelessness and ensure the provision of adequate housing, possibly a growing problem in coming years. The government should be prepared to share responsibilities with families ready to do their utmost to purchase their own homes. The authority had to work on the issue of substandard housing, as there were still houses in an unacceptable state.
The rest of the debate will be published tomorrow.