Good Samaritan extends helping hand to half-paralysed man

A 58-year-old man wants the Housing Authority to give his late father-in-law's flat to Emanuel Cini, a half-paralysed HIV-positive patient who is in a legal and financial tug-of-war that left him living off his elderly mother's pension.

Mr Cini wants the government to grant him a social housing flat close to his mother's home in Cospicua so he could live independently again and work on his rehabilitation. After contracting a parasitic disease called Toxoplasmosis, Mr Cini, a former drama teacher who spent most of his life in London, ended up with a stroke-like condition that makes it very difficult for him to climb stairs like the ones in his mother's home.

Despite having dual-citizenship, Mr Cini said he had been neglected by the Maltese and British authorities and was left penniless even though he was unemployed and had a disability.

"It's such a shame that someone can be so unfortunate. When I read the story it immediately hit me that my father-in-law's house would be perfect for him. It is a one-bedroom ground-floor flat close to where his mother lives," Roberto Montalto said.

Mr Montalto's father-in-law died recently aged 78, so two weeks ago he returned the keys to the Housing Authority. He said he could understand Mr Cini's frustrations because he also experienced a good degree of bureaucracy.

"I know how much bureaucracy there is in these sorts of places and how difficult it is to get an answer sometimes. Even when I went to give the keys back it was like they did not really want them!"

Mr Montalto informed the authority of his request in the hope that Mr Cini's sad story would prompt an act of generosity.

When contacted, the authority said it was looking into the case and would take the necessary steps to help those in need.

"Contrary to what sometimes is stated in the media, the Housing Authority on a daily basis assists numerous individuals who need social housing accommodation. It is not the intention of the authority to get media coverage on issues related to individual social cases. The authority will only comment on policies," CEO Paul DeBattista added.

The flat cost Mr Montalto's father-in-law €38 a month, something Mr Cini might be able to afford if he manages to get his disability allowance from the UK.

Mr Cini is in London visiting his former AIDS doctor and trying to sort out his disability allowance from the British government. The trip was possible after a private company sponsored his flight.

The Social Policy Ministry has as yet not responded to Mr Cini's claims and no explanation was given as to why he is not being given any social assistance for his condition.

cperegin@timesofmalta.com