Government to convert Kirkop convent into affordable co-living residence

The government has launched a 1.6 million euro project to convert a convent in Kirkop into an affordable co-living residence. Led by the Ministry for Housing and Lands and the Affordable Housing Foundation, the project aims to provide housing for 15 residents from lower-income backgrounds.

Under this model, tenants will rent private rooms or studios and share professionally managed communal spaces. The facility is intended to help elderly people avoid isolation and provide young people with an option for independent living. Following community consultations, the site will also include a community clinic open to the public and a night shelter for local elderly residents.

Housing Minister Owen Bonnici said the project uses existing spaces to strengthen communities by offering affordable accommodation and a sense of belonging. Michael Pace Ross, the administrative secretary for the Archdiocese of Malta, noted that the co-living concept helps address loneliness.