Housing service for disadvantaged groups

The Housing Authority has put two apartments at the disposal of the Richmond Foundation, which will use them to offer a more independent way of life to clients with mental health problems.

Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Housing Authority chairman Marisa Micallef Leyson yesterday visited the apartments in Fgura.

The authority recently drew up a scheme to assist NGOs to procure housing for their clients. Applications may be submitted for a property or for funding to refurbish a property that will be used to offer a housing service.

Ms Micallef Leyson said that through such a scheme, the authority was able to reach a number of clients who had specific problems and who would have been impossible to target otherwise.

"We have not only provided more than 2,000 affordable and social housing units to couples and families, but we have also assisted a number of NGOs to provide a housing service to vulnerable or disadvantaged groups such as homeless people, women in difficulties, persons with disability and persons with mental health difficulties.

"This kind of assistance amounted to almost Lm200,000 during this legislature and has enabled a number of individuals to live within the community in a dignified manner," Dr Gonzi said.