Don't blame the housing market for homelessness - new Housing Authority boss

The worsening phenomenon of homelessness is caused by the erosion of care in the community not problems in the housing market, according to the incoming chief of the Housing Authority.

It was “changing traditional ties” in the family, Church and NGOs that was leading to the homelessness problem, said Leonid McKay. The government also showed less care – though recently the “benevolent” State had become more “generous”.

The Federation of Estate Agents sounded a warning last week about tenants at the lower end of the income ladder being priced out of the rental market and pushed into poverty. Potential renters were being outbid by groups of eight or more foreigners, who had no qualms about living in overcrowded apartments.

“Prices of property, both for rental and for sale in Malta, have now increased to beyond that which the average Maltese can afford,” the federation cautioned.

Mr McKay conceded that those renting are the most vulnerable but insisted studies have shown “no direct correlation” between homelessness and the housing market. “If so, the indicators of poverty in Malta would register an increase, rather than a positive decrease,” he added.

Mr McKay did not divulge any...