Villimale’ Residents Voice Concerns Over Overcrowding and Poor Living Conditions

The Ministry of Social and Family Development’s initiative, Haalu Kihineh, has highlighted concerns regarding housing, hygiene, and living conditions among the residents of Villimale’.

The suburban community, home to around 3,000 people, raised these issues during door-to-door visits conducted by ministry officials in August.

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Five teams from the ministry collected information from over 454 households as part of the survey. The most pressing concern among residents was housing, with many reporting difficulties related to overcrowded living spaces and reliance on rented accommodation.

Of the 79 households that reported housing concerns, the average household size was 6.23 people, often living in just one or two rooms. Approximately 53 percent of these residents were renters, 38 percent lived on inherited or subdivided plots, and only 6.23 percent owned their homes.

The second most common issue was hygiene, with many residents expressing concern over the large population of stray cats on the island. Sixty households reported that the high number of felines was affecting the cleanliness of the area, particularly during the rainy season. Residents worried that this could lead to the spread of illnesses such as colds and other diseases.

In addition to housing and hygiene, 28 households cited difficulties in accessing government welfare aid, 23 raised concerns over rising utility bills, and 13 reported challenges in obtaining healthcare services.
The ministry’s findings also noted concerns from 15 households about the lack of income-generating employment, four cases of neglect, and four families struggling to meet basic needs due to poverty.