Event to highlight plight of 'hundreds' of Maltese homeless

The YMCA has launched this year's edition of its Homeless Personalities Event, saying there are several hundred homeless people in Malta.

The event sees well known personalities sleeping rough in Republic Street, Valletta, to raise funds for the YMCA Homeless Shelter Dar Niki Cassar.

A spokesman for the YMCA said that according to 2001 figures, there were 300 homeless people in Malta. The figure has not been updated because of a lack of statistics about the number of people in the various shelters in Malta.

"Not seeing these homeless people vividly does not mean they don’t exist. They exist and try to live unnoticed amongst us, the YMCA said.

"In Malta we do not witness the sight of homeless people as one sees in Paris, London or other cities, because there are shelters such as the YMCA shelter Dar Niki Cassar, which hosts these people, gives them a roof over their heads and provides a team of professionals to guide and support them. They set the ball rolling for these individuals to regain full control over their lives and get back on their own steady feet."

Tthe YMCA shelter needs more than €250,000 annually.

The Homeless Personalities Event will be held between November 21 and 23.

A series of events will be held in order to raise funds while entertaining the people who choose to join.

The main attraction will be local personalities sleeping out in Republic Street. Some of the personalities taking part will be Kristina Casolani: Singer/songwriter, currently topping the local charts, Andrea Cassar (TV presenter), Andreana Spiteri (TV presenter), Audrey Harrison (Actress, model), Claire Aguis (TV presenter), Evelyn Saliba La Rosa (Actress), Ian (L-Ispjun), Jean Paul Mifsud (YMCA, Wara l-Kaz), Louise Doneo (Actess), Mark Doneo (Actor), Martin Sapiano (Radio host), Moira Delia (Presenter), Pauline Agius (TV presenter), Peppi Azzopardi (Xarabank), Phylisianne Brincat (Singer), Rachel Attard Bondi plus, Ruth Frendo (Presenter), Xandru Grech (Sportsman), Immediate Denial (Rock band), Helena Dalli MP, John Bundy (Radio host).

There will also be ‘Jail and Bail’ event where personalities will be held in a cell in Republic Street and will only get out when they reach a target of €2000.

The YMCA Homeless shelter at present accommodates more than 22 individuals, most of whom are women and children. The YMCA said much work is also done from a Drop in Centre, where it provides generic social work to people with diverse problems. YMCA Homeless helps more than 60 individual cases every day.