Imagine you’re John, a 32-year-old Maltese man with a mild form of cerebral palsy, living in a small apartment in Msida. You’ve saved up for years, dreaming of owning your own home, but the deposit seems insurmountable. Now, there’s a glimmer of hope. The government is proposing a €20,000 grant for first-time buyers like you with disabilities. Let’s look what this could mean for Malta’s disabled community.

The proposed grant, part of the upcoming Budget, aims to make homeownership more accessible to individuals with disabilities. Here’s a quick rundown:

• €20,000 grant for first-time buyers with disabilities.
• Applicable to both local and foreign buyers.
• Can be used towards the deposit or other related costs.

Malta’s property market can be challenging, especially for first-time buyers. Add a disability into the mix, and the hurdles grow higher. We spoke to Maria, a real estate agent in Sliema, who’s seen firsthand the struggles disabled clients face.

“I’ve had clients who’ve saved for years, only to find the deposit too high or the property not wheelchair accessible,” she says. “This grant could make a real difference.”

If approved, the grant will be administered by the Housing Authority. Here’s what we know so far:

• Applicants must be first-time buyers.
• The property must be their primary residence.
• More details on eligibility and application process will be announced soon.

For John, this grant could mean the difference between renting forever and owning his own home. “It’s not just about the money,” he says. “It’s about independence, about having a space that’s truly mine.”