EU funds have been put to good use in this aspect and have helped the authorities create specific social housing projects. These were designed either as stand-alone projects or as part of larger regeneration projects.

A total of some €7 million in EU funds have been invested as part of a larger project aimed at giving a much-needed facelift to the lower part of Malta’s capital, Valletta, known as il-Mandraġġ.

This area, dominated by aging sub-standard housing, has been left dilapidated for a long time and needed a massive upgrade to improve the quality of life for its residents.

Through this project some 180 apartments in the area have been fixed and repurposed, making them more accessible to their users, particularly the elderly and those with special needs.

The entire project involved restoring the facades and common areas of four blocks of apartments in typical Valletta streets such as Mattia Preti and Carmel Street.

Apart from extensive works on the apartments themselves, which have given them a fresh look and a new lease of life, the project focused also on improving accessibility to roads leading to the housing units.

This social housing project formed part of a larger one – the regeneration of the whole area – for which some €24 million of EU funds were dedicated.

The area, which stretches from the Fortifications Interpretation Centre to Fort St Elmo, was improved through the regeneration and cleaning of many of the facades of the magnificent Auberges, the development of new commercial facilities and the upgrade of Valletta’s water polo pitch, which has been in disuse for many years.

Maritime transport infrastructure was also given a boost with the building of new landing facilities for the passenger ferries which criss-cross the Marsamxett port from Sliema to the lower part of Valletta.

www.housingauthority.gov.mt