It has taken the government long to give a real kick-start to its social housing programme, but it looks as if it has now fashioned a policy that could not only provide a roof over the head of the homeless but equally important of helping those that also need a specialised service to find their feet again in the community.

If the reading of the information given so far is correct, the idea appears to be two-pronged, providing social housing for those unable to afford building their own homes or renting at the current rates, and housing targeted for specific vulnerable people.

The Prime Minister has already indicated his government’s intention to move away from the free entitlement mentality prevailing under successive administrations, when housing units were generally distributed to supporters of the party in government. This would be most laudable if only the intention does not eventually slip into the same mentality of the past, particularly close to an election.

But other than this, the government is now going a step further by thinking of targeting vulnerable people who need specific help. It plans to do this in collaboration with non-governmental organisations specialising in providing specialised services. The idea, admirable in its concept, is to hand over vacant derelict buildings owned by the government to NGOs prepared to run them for specific housing programmes.

The government will financially help them renovate and convert the buildings for such purpose out of a special budgetary fund under a scheme administered by a board set up by the housing secretariat. The kind of vulnerable people the government has in mind may be those suffering mental health problems or having drug-related difficulties.

In this way, the secretariat hopes it would be able to provide a personalised service until those given such help are reintegrated in the community. Several unused buildings in Cospicua, Valletta and other localities that could be used for such purpose have already been identified.

One immediate observation is that the amount allocated, €500,000, appears somewhat small for such a project, but surely this can be raised if the experiment works. And it could indeed work well if the NGOs are selected wisely and purely on merits, and if only those that deserve such specialised service are allowed to benefit under the scheme.

Again, for the programme to be successful, it has to be run professionally and be seen to be so, for if, as it so often happens, it becomes a front for the award of favours for political support, it would simply perpetuate the entitlement mentality. For this reason, the programme would have to be well monitored.

In line with its new policy of moving away from the entitlement mentality, at least in social housing, the government has in mind renting, not selling, housing units. Those granted social housing would also be given support to help themselves so that eventually they will be able to move out, making way for others in need. Handing over the keys, said the Prime Minister, would be just the start of a process.

All this makes sense but ultimately it all boils down to willingness to stick to the original intention. Since experience does not provide much room for comfort in this regard, only time will tell.

This is a Times of Malta print editorial

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