New specialized housing project for women who have completed drug rehabilitation programme

A new specialized housing project, through which women formerly suffering from drug addiction challenges will be assisted, was announced by Minister for Social Housing Accommodation Roderick Galdes and Director of Caritas Malta Anthony Gatt, yesterday.

Through the Housing Authority, the government will invest the sum of €289,454 - which includes value added tax (VAT) - to help in carrying out the necessary works.

Mothers, adults, and young women who complete their drug rehabilitation programme at Dar Et-Iris, a building within San Blas, often find it difficult to reintegrate back in society, a government statement read. “Through this home, these women will be able to receive the necessary help they deserve.”

Minister Roderick Galdes reiterated that everyone has the right to decent accommodation. “We are giving these individuals a decent home. That is why these projects are so dear to me because we are not just constructing another building,” said Minister Galdes.

This specialized housing will not only offer specialized services that go hand in hand with the national housing system, but the site’s design and planning will also be sustainable, innovative, and subsequently designed and adapted to match the services to be rendered therein, the minister said.

Construction works in this house will include demolition and reconstruction so that the property will include common areas for relaxation and group social activities as well as a variety of individual apartments comprising of one/two bedrooms with some rooms being able to accommodate mothers with children. As they make use of this specialized housing, the progress made by residents will continue to be closely monitored.

The Director of Caritas Malta, Anthony Gatt, explained that this project will connect all the nodes in the proverbial chain in terms of rehabilitation services for women: “When a woman decides to undergo a drug rehabilitation programme, after months of therapy and working with the person, we have a lacuna within the service provision, as obstacles are encountered if the individual is homeless and without a supporting family. The situation of these women is precarious, especially when it comes to reintegrating with their children.”