Half of the people who have nowhere to sleep and knock on the door of Dar Papa Franġisku are not Maltese.

The emergency shelter in Birkirkara, which provides a daily meal, clean clothes, shower facilities and a bed to those who end up without one overnight, opened in mid-July. Since then, the number of people who have slept there keeps growing.

People are referred to existing services once their basic necessities have been seen to.

About 14 individuals were hosted in the 20-bedroomed house between July 18 and the end of the same month. This grew to 57 in August. The number fell to 29 in September but there were 41 and 50 people in October and November.

The shelter is run by the recently-set up Dar il-Hena Foundation and welcomes both men and women until another house opens for women in the coming days.

The foundation is a collaboration between the government, through the Family Ministry, the Church, via Caritas Malta, and the private sector, in the form of the Alfred Mizzi Foundation.

It was, in fact, the Alfred Mizzi Foundation, founded by Alf. Mizzi and Sons in 2003, that came up with the idea of opening an emergency shelter.

Dar Papa Franġisku being an emergency shelter means that, in principle, it provides a bed for the night for those who suddenly find themselves homeless. The person in distress can then be referred for support the following day. Others, who have a roof over their head, but no food, can also drop in for a meal.

Caritas Malta director Leonid McKay noted that half of those who slept there were foreigners, mostly Sub-Saharan.

Those seeking an emergency bed face different realities, such as mental health issues and substance abuse and, in the case of non-Maltese, being unable to keep up with the rent.

Mr McKay said the death of a Somali migrant, who was found under a pedestrians’ bridge in Marsa earlier this month, should be an eye-opener that there were foreigners – some of whom with mental health issues – who were living in precarious conditions.

He expressed disappointment that, despite the public outcry following the discovery of a Maltese man dead in Żabbar in February, eight weeks after he passed away alone at his home, there had been no similar reaction about the Somali’s death.

“People, and not just policymakers, need to understand the pain these people go through,” he said.

Between 30 and 40 people of all ages go to the emergency shelter for food every day.

Mr McKay noted that December was usually associated with solitude, something Caritas had been speaking about for years, as far back as the 1990s. The worst form of punishment for humans was solitary confinement, he said.

People were social beings and the share button on social media such as Facebook reflected such basic needs. Some people who had no one with whom to share their happiness, sadness, experiences and stories, even sought company in pets. The difficult realities of solitude could lead to depression and, in extreme cases, suicide, he cautioned.

Noting that a problem shared was a problem halved, Mr McKay appealed to those suffering from loneliness to seek support from someone within their locality, such as church volunteers, or even professionals, like counsellors. Such professionals would also be present at this year’s Caritas’ Christmas lunch in case some of the guests wanted a listening ear.

Mr McKay noted that even some of those who turned up for the daily meal at Dar Papa Franġisku suffered from solitude. However, most of the diners consisted of those unable to afford a meal, including elderly people. Most such individuals had their own house, however, their miserable income did not allow them a daily meal.

Latest figures show that between 30 and 40 people of all ages, but mostly male, go to the shelter for food every day.

Any volunteers who would like to lend a hand at Dar Papa Franġisku can call on 2788 8211. More information on info@caritasmalta.org.

Those who would like to attend the Caritas Christmas lunch, which is supported by the President of Malta and the Parliamentary Secretary for Local Government, Alf. Mizzi and Sons and Nexos Lighting, but do not have any means of transport can call on 9912 2515.

Getting back on your feet

When Stephanie* fell out with her sister in August and she was kicked out of the house together with her daughter, the woman had nowhere to go.

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The 38-year-old single mother had never found herself in such a situation and when she sought help she learnt that all residential programme shelters were full.

“I didn’t have anything, not even some money to buy food. I had heard of Dar Papa Franġisku and, once there, they fed my daughter, we took a shower and washed our clothes.”

With her mind at rest about basic necessities, Stephanie started looking for her own place. The two now live on their own and the mother is looking for a job.

Stephanie said the emergency shelter helped her get back on her feet but insisted that people in her situation could not remain dependent on others. “Others will help you as best as they can but you have to do your own part. You have to try your best to look after yourself.”

Caritas public relations officer Marica Mizzi said that even people who needed a meal and a bed could not stay in the house throughout the day because the foundation did not want the shelter to become a comfort zone.

The aim of the shelter was to refer them to existing social and psychological services and not for them to remain dependent. However, this could not be done unless they were first fed, had clean clothes and a good rest, she added.

*Name has been changed