The Ministry of Housing has stated that when parents apply for flats on behalf of persons with disabilities, they will not be required to submit documentation proving the individual's disability.

Amendments were brought last month allowing parents to apply under the category specifically reserved for persons with disabilities within the government's housing scheme. The opportunity for parents registered with Aasandha/NSPA to apply for flats opened late last month and will continue until the 15th of this month.

The Housing Ministry stated today that if a parent registered with NSPA submits the application, they will not need to submit additional documentation to prove this status.

While the category for persons with disabilities was amended to provide easements for parents to apply, the residency period required for persons with disabilities to qualify for the program was also recently reduced. Although the general requirement set this time is continuous residency in the Malé area for 15 years, a change was brought allowing persons with disabilities to apply for flats if they have resided in the area continuously for five years.

Furthermore, individuals who have to travel to Malé to seek services for their disability, as well as those who have relocated to Malé to access services, will also be eligible to submit application forms for housing.

Under the housing scheme currently open, a total of 7,900 flats and 15,000 land plots of 1,250 square feet will be allocated. The deadline to apply for all these categories will expire this coming Monday.

Housing Minister Dr. Abdulla Muththalib recently stated that there are 37,000 forms, including draft applications, on the portal. He noted that if all these individuals submit their forms, it will mark the highest number of applicants for a land and flat project in the Maldives.