Over 2,600 requests for alternative accommodation – Labour MP
Matthew Vella
Labour MP Roderick Galdes has charged the Housing Authority with having over 2,600 cases of families complaining of sub-standard housing, and called on the government to provide them with adequate accommodation.
“They are demanding help because they can’t bear the financial burden of finding alternative accommodation. The government is duty-bound to given those most in need the social assistance and adequate accommodation to guarantee these families to live in dignity,” Galdes said.
Galdes made reference to a story published on Labour’s e-newspaper maltastar.com, about Maria Dolores Saliba. The 76-year-old from Pietà has been living in a sub-standard property for over 14 years.
She was offered alternative accommodation in Ghaxaq by the Housing Authority, which she has refused because she said was “too far away”. She however agreed to an offer for accommodation near Pietà.
Galdes said it was unacceptable that Saliba’s complaints went unheard for some eight years, and that she was on a waiting list to be given alternative accommodation.
“Vulnerable people are not being heard by the Authority, and are still living in places lying in a bad state, with severe consequences to their health,” the Labour MP said.
“It’s unacceptable that government has no targets to solve this waiting list. Some of these people have been waiting for five years and we still don’t know how many requests government is ready to accede to.”
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