Sharjah24: Coinciding with the International Day of Older Persons, which falls on October 1st, and based on the commitment and belief of the Sharjah Housing Department in caring for and supporting the elderly, the department has adopted numerous housing programs and services aimed at providing safe housing for them. These initiatives follow best practices tailored to the needs of older adults, prioritising their service and comfort to enhance family cohesion. The department also gives priority to reviewing their housing applications, providing them with housing units near their children who are applying for support, and offering temporary rental assistance until a housing support decision is issued.
The department has launched several initiatives to provide suitable housing, with designs specifically catered to the elderly, which adhere to pre-approved international standards and are offered free of charge. They also involve the elderly in department events, listen to their suggestions, and adopt them, reflecting the department’s commitment to effectively empower the elderly within the community.
Following the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, who advocates for special attention to be given to the elderly, the department has implemented several initiatives to serve and fully support the elderly. These initiatives include offering temporary rental assistance until permanent housing is provided, and combining housing requests from the elderly with those of their children.
The department has ensured that all its housing projects meet the standards of age-friendly cities, aiming to integrate older persons into society and provide affordable housing options. This is achieved through discounts for furniture, household items, and building materials, as well as offering designs that cater to the needs of the elderly. Additionally, the department provides rental contract exemption when the elderly receive rental assistance, prioritizes their housing requests, and facilitates access to the department’s services through online applications or home visits.
Moreover, the "Isnad" initiative has been launched to support beneficiaries who are unable to build or benefit from housing support decisions. Through this initiative, the Housing Department takes charge of the construction process and supervises the building of the home, offering designs that accommodate the needs of the elderly and allowing for easy modifications to meet their specific requirements.
In its ongoing efforts to provide safe housing and ensure the comfort of the elderly, the department has launched the "Hassantuk" project in collaboration with the Civil Defense Ministry and Etisalat. This is a proactive and preventive service that installs early fire alarm systems to ensure the safety of the elderly. The system directly communicates with them in case of potential danger from fire or similar hazards.
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