Housing Authority launches care and repair initiative

The Housing Authority last week launched a care and repair initiative. Housing Authority chairman Marisa Micallef Leyson explained that this was not, strictly speaking, a scheme, but an initiative to help those who do not normally come to the Housing Authority.

The target groups are those who are the most vulnerable in our society, like elderly women living alone and single mothers with children. 'Care and Repair' is aimed at marginalised persons who find even filling out forms worrying. These people often do not know that help exists.

They may be victims of abuse, persons recovering from depression and are often the poorest in our society, often living on social security benefits.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Social Policy noted that the Care and Repair scheme forms part of a wider reform which is taking care in the provision of personalised social welfare services.

He said that Government has embarked on a mammoth task to target and attune social welfare services to the most needy.

The reduction in benefit abuse, the transformation of Appogg as the country's premier social welfare service provider and the provision of social work in the community health centres, the elderly, housing and employment sectors all point to a strategy of empowerment which this government has committed itself to.

"The Care and Repair initiative is therefore an example of inter-agency co-operation for hassle-free, one-stop personalised services which responds to the citizen's actual needs.

"It also alleviates the concerns of those whose needs are greater while improving access to social services," Dr Gonzi said.

While the Housing Authority offers repair/adaptability schemes and has already helped a considerable number of people through these schemes - 1,724 beneficiaries since 1998 - Care and Repair is different in that it offers a more personalised approach.

For example, when applying through a scheme, applicants are given a list of contractors. It is then up to prospective beneficiaries to liaise with a contractor to carry out repairs.

Under the Care and Repair initiative, it is Housing Authority staff who liaise with contractors on behalf of beneficiaries. This is done to avoid unnecessary worry to clients who are in a vulnerable position.

The Housing Authority recently set up a panel to discuss 'Care and Repair' cases. The panel members are representatives of Housing Authority, Agenzija Appogg and the Department of Social Accommodation and is chaired by the Housing Authority.

Cases can be referred by a social worker from Agenzija Appogg or from the Housing Authority's own outreach work with parish priests, etc. The Housing Authority's technical section carry out an inspection of the premises.

Each case is discussed on its own merits during meetings, which are normally held once a month and the social worker advises the client of the outcome.

The whole idea is to offer a housing service, 'repairs' within a framework of other services, hence the 'care' aspect.

"One must remember," Ms Micallef Leyson went on, "that housing problems are rarely isolated ones.

"Generally there is a plethora of other problems in a person's life and the housing aspect is just one of them. This is why we have introduced a more holistic approach to problem-solving."