900 Families Provided With Social Housing Over The Past Two Years

In a press release, it was announced that over the past two years, the Government of Malta has invested €150 million in the social and affordable housing sector. During the last 22 months alone, more than 900 families have been provided with social accommodation.

The progress, current needs, and future strategy for housing were discussed during the “Id-Dar t’Għada” conference, which brought together experts and key stakeholders in the field.

In his opening address, Minister for Social and Affordable Accommodation Roderick Galdes announced that in the first nine months of this year, 377 new allocations of social housing were made. Together with last year’s 550 allocations, these provided homes for more than 900 families.

Minister Galdes explained that the government invested around €150 million in social and affordable accommodation between last year and this year, with plans to sustain this level of investment into the coming year.

He noted that in 2024, more than 12,300 families benefited from Housing Authority schemes such as first-time buyers and equity sharing. With 85% of Maltese families owning their homes, the government aims to continue providing viable alternatives for those who do not qualify for social housing.

Among these initiatives is the affordable housing project developed in collaboration with the Church, which will deliver 260 apartments for sale at prices 30% below market value. The Minister also highlighted new initiatives to be launched soon, including the concept of housing cooperatives based on community principles.

Minister Galdes reaffirmed the government’s commitment to support the elderly and vulnerable persons through funding for stairlifts and new lifts, improving accessibility within their homes. He also referred to schemes such as “Nikru biex Nassistu”, which has assisted 1,300 families through an investment of €38 million over the past eight years.

He stressed that the government remains focused on reducing waiting lists, expanding affordable housing stock through new developments, and helping more families become homeowners.

“In line with the Malta 2050 Vision, housing remains a key pillar of social justice and the foundation of a fair and inclusive society,” said Minister Galdes.

The conference also featured remarks from Emanuel Psaila, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry for Social and Affordable Accommodation, who outlined ongoing work to ensure that more social groups can benefit from the various housing schemes. He referred to several innovative measures currently under consideration.

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