Sixteen persons with mental disabilities in Balti have been provided with housing as part of a specific service launched on Friday by the Balti-based NGO Somato, in partnership with the local authorities and foreign donors, Info-Prim Neo reports. The beneficiaries have been accommodated in two apartments and two houses offered by the Balti municipality. Repair and furnishing was funded by foreign donors, with the EU Delegation to Moldova being one of the largest contributors. Somato chair Jana Chihai stated at the launch ceremony that inadequate conditions for independent and free living represented one of the biggest difficulties faced by people with mental disabilities. “The Sheltered Housing service is a good opportunity for our beneficiaries to live an independent life, to integrate into society and decide by themselves what is most important in their everyday lives”, said Jana Chihai. Besides this housing service, the NGO has also provided home care to 80 people with mental disabilities living in Balti. Official statistics indicate that Balti is home to over three thousand people with mental health problems, including over 200 children and around 190 teenagers.