‘Adequate and affordable housing holds the key to health, education, and economic progress’ – APS CSO

Liana DeBattista, Chief Strategy Officer at APS Bank believes adequate and affordable housing is essential for societal progress.

Her remarks were made following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 15th September, between the bank and the Foundation for Affordable Housing, solidifying their partnership for present and future collaboration.

She said that "adequate and affordable housing holds the key to health, education, and economic progress, crucial for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Sustainability is at our core, as the Community Bank in Malta.”

With this alliance, APS Bank becomes a strategic partner with the Foundation for Affordable Housing, “aligning efforts to realise a shared vision.”

This joint venture between the Government and the Archdiocese of Malta will focus on accessible and affordable housing solutions. It aims to assess the local housing market and propose strategies to improve affordability, especially for those struggling to meet their housing needs. Together, they will publish reports addressing current property market challenges and advocating for viable solutions.

Commenting on the signing of the MOU, Jake Azzopardi, Foundation for Affordable Housing’s Chief Executive said that the foundation’s principal aim is to actively provide affordable housing solutions and quality supply. Specifically targeted with the categories of people who are facing challenges in the current market conditions, despite not being welfare dependents. However, he said, attaining this will require building a wide coalition of partners from the private and the public sectors.

Dr Azzopardi said that this agreement “marks the beginning of a long-term relationship with a strategic partner which shares the values of the Foundation for Affordable Housing.”

“The collaboration with a widely respected leader in the local banking sector continues to breed trust in the mission and the plan of the foundation, and augurs well for the attainment of its ambitions in ensuring everyone access to an affordable home,” he concluded.