Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1048856
24 NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 7 NOVEMBER 2018 PAUL COCKS THE Housing Authority will be assum- ing responsibility for the maintenance expenses for the next 10 years in so- cial housing blocks that will be seeing an influx of EU funds aimed at raising the standard of living, MaltaToday has learned. Around 700 families will be benefit- ting from EU-funded social housing projects which will be focusing on mak- ing social housing more accessible. Aaron Farrugia, parliamentary secre- tary for European funds, said on Mon- day that work was already underway to make 19 blocks of social housing more accessible. 100 blocks were identified as being in need of upgrading and will be made more accessible through the installation of energy-efficient lifts by 2022. MaltaToday has learned that the Housing Authority will be leading the project, which is worth over €10 mil- lion in EU funding and will be com- pleted by 2022. Over 2,000 individuals are set to benefit. It will cover 29 localities and will contribute to the urban improvement of open spaces between estates which will, in turn, contribute to the commu- nity regeneration of deprived families. The project will also make use of energy efficient technologies, thus re- ducing carbon emissions. It will provide accessibility to elder persons and persons with disabilities, while sub-standard social housing will be upgraded in a bid to reduce crime, violence or vandalism in the areas. The project is financed by Malta's European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) 2014-2020 Operational Programme, which has a total budget of over €700 million. "European funds are contributing towards ensuring that economic pros- perity is being invested in the current and upcoming generations," Farrugia said. "This economic model will ensure that everyone benefits from the success of the country, as a government which is close to the people will continue to bring about wealth and prosperity." He said that a further €37 million had been budgeted towards social in- clusion and vulnerable people in 2018 alone. A total of 2,000 people were as- sisted, 33% of whom were women. A further 4,000 individuals had bene- fitted from a €43 million investment in education, training and lifelong learn- ing. A total of 7,500 tablets were dis- tributed in primary schools through a similar initiative funded by the ESF. The localities which will be benefit- ting from the accessible housing project are Attard, Birgu, Birkirkara, Bormla, Hal Ghaxaq, Gudja, Gzira, Hamrun, Kalkara, Kirkop, Lija, Marsa, Mosta, Pembroke, Pieta, Qormi, Rabat, Paola, San Gwann, Sta Lucija, Sta Venera, Siggiewi, Ta' Xbiex, Tarxien, Valletta, Zabbar, Zebbug, Zejtun, and Zurrieq. Housing Authority to pay for maintenance in 'accessible' social housing blocks 700 families to benefit from EU funds for accessible social housing Improvements will include the installation of energy-efficient lifts by 2022