Short Abstract

A qualitative rapid evaluation of a rent subsidy revealed uneven beneficiary outcomes. Subsequent subsidy modelling informed by findings shaped reforms proposed in the 2026 budget, showing how adaptive, timely evaluation can drive substantive policy change.

Description

Adequate housing is recognised as a fundamental human right (UNHCR, 2009), yet in Malta, rising rental costs and limited regulatory safeguards have intensified affordability pressures since 2013 (Micallef, 2021). In response, the Housing Authority introduced the Housing Benefit Scheme (HBS), a rent-subsidy programme designed to support low-income households (Malta Housing Authority, 2019). This presentation shows how a rapid qualitative evaluation of HBS directly shaped subsidy reform and is currently being appraised by the appropriate ministry to be adopted in the forthcoming 2026 national budget.

An evaluation of the HBS was carried out by an external consultant who used a logic model to identify causal links between inputs and outcomes. Data was gathered and analysed using a rapid qualitative assessment approach with six beneficiaries representing various types of households using thematic analysis. Despite its small scale, the evaluation revealed stark disparities: beneficiaries facing severe structural disadvantages remained unable to achieve housing security, while others reported stability and even aspirations to purchase property. These findings underscored that a “one-size-fits-all” approach was insufficient to address heterogeneous needs, even within the same household category.

Building on the qualitative insights, a subsequent quantitative modelling exercise using administrative data from beneficiaries was carried out. Multiple subsidy scenarios were developed to better reflect market conditions, align with the needs of diverse household types, and identify cost-effective solutions. Through an iterative process with ministries and the Housing Authority, one scenario was adopted, and the revised methodology is being appraised for the 2026 National Budget.

The case illustrates how adaptive evaluation approaches—combining timely qualitative insights with targeted modelling—can influence high-level policy decisions under pressing conditions. It also highlights practical lessons: the benefits and trade-offs of outsourcing evaluations, the balance between methodological rigour and timeliness, and the role of effective communication tools (e.g., visuals, scenario modelling) in securing stakeholder buy-in.

This contribution demonstrates that even modest, rapid evaluations can catalyse substantive policy change when strategically embedded in adaptive, utilisation-focused processes. It offers transferable insights for evaluators working in dynamic policy environments where evidence must be timely, credible, and actionable.

References:

Malta Housing Authority. (2019). Housing Benefit On Privately Rented Dwellings (2019). https://housingauthority.gov.mt/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ HBS-Conditions-English-2024.pdf

Micallef, B. (2021). The Long-Lasting Legacy of Rent Controls: Perspectives on the Private Rental Market in Malta within the Context of a Dual Market. International Journal of Real Estate Studies, 15(2), 43-54.

UNHCR. (2009). The right to adequate housing. The office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Geneva: United Nations Office at Geneva. https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/Documents/Publications/ FS21_rev_1_Housing_en.pdf