Plea to include the aged in housing policies

Opposition spokesperson for health Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca has called on the Housing Authority to address the aging population issue in its policies, declaring it was futile for the authority to have a plan on the installation of lifts when it did not have the required finances. The authority had a role to ensure that people were truly integrated.

The authority’s estimates report showed that there were more than 2,000 pending applications. The scheme to subsidise the rent of families who were in need was not enough for such families to maintain themselves and to educate their children. Moreover, certain landlords were not ready to issue receipts and consequently such families were denied access to such subsidies.

Turning to disability, Mrs Coleiro Preca said that the authority, the national commission for persons with a disability and the Community Chest Fund should coordinate between them to introduce the concept of a one-stop-shop.

The employment of a part-time social worker was too little; the authority should invest in a team of social workers to cater for the cases it dealt with.

On inclusion, Mrs Coleiro Preca said one should plan housing estates. She brought to the House’s attention the situation in Ħal Farruġ where, she said, 300 families ended up living as if they were in a ghetto. The area lacked adequate lighting, services and public transport. There were also many stray dogs. These factors were to be considered in the embellishment of housing estates.

Mrs Coleiro Preca said that one should not only consider the operations of the authority but also its policies. There was a need for a national policy that would incorporate not only social housing but also the environment and affordability.