The YMCA homeless shelter has seen a rise in the number of occupants from an average of eight in 2010 to anywhere between 20 and 25 today, according to figures published this week.

The main problem, according to YMCA shelter administrator Anthony Camilleri, is lack of employment and educational shortcomings. The shelter only houses 22 people, so some are forced to sleep on sofas when overcrowding occurs.

The programme allows for people to spend a maximum of six months in the Valletta home, after which they would have found alternate housing through the help of social workers, he said.

The shelter will move to Msida within the next six months, which will boost its capacity to around 30. The current site’s lease will expire and the new site will be provided and furnished by the Government, Mr Camilleri said.

A scheme currently exists where social care students from the University of Malta and the Malta College for Arts, Science and Technology undertake field work to achieve their degrees.

As part of Corporate Responsibility Day, Apple Core Foods Ltd earlier this week cooked and served lunch at the shelter.