Prime Minister Robert Abela together with the Minister for Social and Affordable Accommodation Roderick Galdes inaugurated the opening of Dar il-Qawsalla.
A house that will be welcoming members of the LGBTIQ community who are facing socio-economic challenges and are homeless.
In this way, Dar Qawsalla will be offering a safe space for these people while helping to reduce the pressure on the Housing Authority. This residence, which will be run by The Malta LGBTIQ Rights Movement (MGRM), will be welcoming members of the LGBTIQ community who are homeless for a maximum of two years.
With the help of Dar il-Qawsalla workers, after these two years, the residents will go to alternative independent accommodation or referred to another service. As he addressed all those present for the official opening of this house, Prime Minister Robert Abela claimed how this new project continues to confirm the government’s commitment to address social realities in our country.
“I didn’t stop with the great reforms we made in the field of civil rights. We could have done that and say we have done enough. No. This is a government whose pulse is with its people and it is because of this that we have noticed new realities such as those that the residents of this house are going through and we have found a solution for them as well,” said the prime minister as he reiterated the importance of values in favor of inclusion in a society that loves and appreciates everyone.
The Minister for Social and Affordable Accommodation Roderick Galdes spoke about the work and the holistic vision that this government is carrying out in practice in the social and affordable housing sector, which is leading to further expanding the social projects, including through projects in which the Housing Authority is collaborating so well with non-governmental organizations.
“In this Dar il-Qawsalla project, through the help that was given by the Housing Development Fund within the Housing Authority, in collaboration with MGRM, today we are inaugurating a project that will be done difference both in the LGBTIQ sector, as well as in the lives of the beneficiaries and their families,” stated Minister Roderick Galdes.
The residents who will be living in Dar il-Qawsalla, will be receiving a Social Work and/or Therapeutic Support service before, during and even after they have completed their time in this home. This service will be provided for free by Rainbow Support Services. The goal of this foundation is to help these individuals rebuild their social circles while looking for new work or education opportunities, reuniting with families or friends, and in the last mile – finally they live an independent life again.
Photos: DOI/OPM
