The Housing Authority’s Vision
What have we achieved? Where do we want to go?
Every individual, at a point in time of his/her life, should reflect on two fundamental areas.
What have I managed to achieve in life so far? Am I satisfied with what I have achieved?
What do I want to change? What do I want to achieve? What is the vision for my future?
An individual who succeeds in doing a self assessment and identifies his/her strengths and have a clear vision of what he/she wants to achieve, will be able to utilize his/her full potential and realize the set targets of the individual.
The Housing Authority, in collaboration with entities giving a social service, will be a doing a similar soul searching exercise.
What have we achieved? The Authority, notwithstanding the limitations arising from both internal and external forces, is operating as an entity that is looking at the human aspect of its clients and working to have a socially inclusive society.
But there is room for more initiative. During the coming year, the Housing Authority will be responding to the questions: Where do we want to go? What is the future Vision? Whilst the Housing Authority needs to continue building on its past achievements, one should also mention the way forward, the direction and vision of what the Housing Authority would be achieving in the coming years.
Briefly, the salient areas on which the Housing Authority will be working in the coming year are the following:
1. In collaboration with the Local Councils where there are Housing Estates, the Housing Authority will be launching a scheme entitled “Strengthening our Communities, Regeneration of Housing Blocks”. The aim of this scheme is to strengthen the Communities that live in government Housing Estates. Local councils will be given financial incentives for them to invest in projects for the improvement of the areas surrounding the housing blocks and also for organizing special educational programmes for the residents.
2. Another scheme, in collaboration with the Local Councils, will be to address the maintenance of common parts in Housing Blocks. This is a scheme, spread over a six year period, whereby 1,208 common parts will be refurbished using special funds which will be allocated for this scheme. Apart from the maintenance of common parts, the Housing Authority, with help from Local Councils, will discuss with the residents of all Housing Estates the setting up of Residents Associations. In this way, residents will understand their responsibility in the management and upkeep of these buildings. During this year, the Housing Authority will also start an educational campaign entitled: “ My building, My home”.
3. Revision and evaluation of all Housing Authority Schemes. These schemes will be assessed and modified in such a way to have inclusive schemes which will be targeted to address the needs of all individuals that need such assistance especially those that are most vulnerable.
4. Introduction of a new scheme – “Fixing my home.” This scheme will be launched for the elderly (65+) that live either in a private or a government property. The Housing Authority will be studying ways of helping as efficiently as possible such requests. This is a scheme that will target not only the elderly that have mobility problems but also those cases where there is urgent need of house maintenance. It is the Authority’s intention that these elderly citizens continue to live in their own communities.
5. Apart from completing the revision process of calculation of a decent rent rate, there will be a drive to collect the rent dues from everybody and to facilitate the method of payment of such rents for the individuals.
6. Several garages, that are presently empty and not being used, will be offered at special discounted prices. These garages will be offered for sale for the public in general and not just to residents of government premises.
7. The Housing Authority will be issuing a call for owners of apartments who wish to rent their premises for social housing. The Housing Authority will eventually rent out these premises to persons that cannot afford to rent from the open market at subsidized rents.
8. The Authority will continue to assess the individuals on its waiting list so as to understand better the individual needs and thus it will be in a better position to respond to their real needs.
9. The Authority will continue evaluating the possibility of entering into a Private Public Partnership to carry out new housing construction projects.
10. The Housing Authority will continue in its campaign to identify any vacant premises and to curb any abuse by individuals who are using premises in an abused manner.
11. The Housing Authority will continue to closely work with other entities in order to solve the issue of promise of sale agreements and be in a position to sign a definite final contract.
12. The Housing Authority will study the possibility to introduce a new scheme to encourage people purchasing the premises and thus become home owners.
13. The Housing Authority will conduct a research in order to have a detailed profile of individuals living in social houses. Such information will help the Authority not only understand better the needs of the residents, locality by locality, but will then be in a position to offer a holistic assistance, in collaboration with other entities, to the residents for them to live a better quality life.
14. There will be a drive to carry out the finishing works on premises under construction. Such premises are earmarked to be rented out and allocated by end of this year.
15.The Housing Authority will be publishing a brochure explaining its policies and the various schemes that are being offered.
16. The Housing Authority, to commemorate the year dedicated to NGOs, will be liaising with NGOs to implement a programme of “support community housing”.
17. The Housing Authority will study ways to tap European Union Funds to use on particular projects and for training of personnel.
18. In an effort to strengthen its Public Relations, the Authority is working on a new more user friendly website. During this year, The Housing Authority will also look into the possibility on introducing a “ document management system”.
19. The Housing Authority will continue with its urban regeneration programme.
20. The Authority will be introducing a voluntary educational meetings will new tenants. Such meetings have the scope of helping the new tenants integrate better and faster with the other residents of the Housing Estate community. These meetings will continue throughout the first year of domicile.
21. The Housing Authority will be studying the possibility of finding out alternative premises from where it can give a better service to its clients.
22. During this year, the Housing Authority will be signing a collective agreement with one of the main Unions of the Country.