’46-year-old Doris came to YMCA Malta after leaving a psychiatric hospital. She had been abused by her husband for several years and her children were still living with him. Doris could not bring them with her to YMCA’s shelter due to a lack of beds. She was assisted in finding employment and once she was capable of independent living, Doris found a rental property with her children and new partner. YMCA helped her reduce the financial burden by assisting her with a rental subsidy application.’ 

’19-year-old Susan spent her childhood in institutions. She had started gambling at the age of 17 and was emotionally aggrieved because she wanted to track down her parents. Susan was living in a hostel for female individuals and was eventually referred to the YMCA Malta. She was capable of living with minimal supervision, was working part-time and had found a steady partner. Since then Susan has succeeded in finding full-time employment and will soon be moving into her own independent domicile.’

‘Mark was 26 and homeless. He was referred to the YMCA Malta by the national helpline. He had no family support, was abusing drugs and living in a hotel. Mark could not keep paying these charges and was asked to leave. He could not be accommodated at the YMCA due to a lack of beds and his severe drug habit. However various efforts were made by the YMCA to better his situation. He was placed in a guest house for the weekend and referred to a specialised agency catering for drug abusers the following week. Mark eventually moved into a shelter for homeless men.’

‘Lisa left her abusive partner who had forced her into prostitution. She was referred to the YMCA Malta together with her three children aged two, three and nine. Lisa was given accommodation and a secure environment to keep her from her partner who was looking for her. YMCA liaised with the Domestic Violence Unit and helped Lisa retrieve her belongings from her former home. Eventually she was able to rent an apartment where she now lives with her children.’

‘Mary was a 30-year-old woman referred to the YMCA Malta by the Domestic Violence Unit. She was five months pregnant and had been sleeping in a car for the past two months. She had already been in a shelter and experienced difficulties with their stringent regulations. Mary was taken in by YMCA Malta and was referred to a hospital social worker to guide her during her pregnancy. She was assisted in submitting an application for social housing and was referred to a second-stage shelter for domestic violence victims. Mary later resumed contact with YMCA, staying with them for a few days before going back to her family and reconciling with her father.’

‘James came from abroad and found himself in financial difficulty after separating from his wife. He had nowhere to live and was unemployed. YMCA Malta referred him to a shelter for homeless men and provided him with his essential needs. However, he encountered difficulties in this shelter and preferred to return to his own country. YMCA was in the process of providing him with an airline ticket but he then decided to stay on in Malta. He found a flat and YMCA paid for the first month’s rent. He found employment and is now living on his own without the need for further assistance.’

We received a call from the 179 Helpline informing us that a Good Samaritan had called in as he had found a family of four sleeping on the side of the road in the middle of the night.

At midnight, this mother, father and two young children arrived at our shelter with all of their worldly possessions in suitcases with them. The children were freezing to the touch but it was their vacant expressions that were more striking. The family had become homeless after falling out with family members who they were living with and as a result of having no other support network, had resorted to sleeping rough.

At ‘Dar Niki Cassar’ we offer family rooms and homelessness did not mean separating this young family. They soon settled in and with the help of both our team and the rest of our residents, the whole family integrated well within the community. The children soon filled the rooms with their laugher and play. We initially helped by providing them all with warm winter clothing and food.

As they came from abroad, we soon began helping them by providing guidance with their documentation. We also helped clarify procedures for them and set up essential medical appointments. As the father was employed, it was not long before we were able to work with the family to find an apartment and move them back into independent living.

The way in which the children became so much happier made this time very significant for us. Although this family was only with us for a short while, we were able to relieve the parents until they got back on their feet. These days they are happily settled and often come past to tell us how well they are doing.

Koji had already been through much trauma in his life before he reached our doors. Only in his mid-twenties, he had already escaped his country as a refugee, bearing much heartache and pain in the process. Having lost his entire family, Koji had no support system at all, let alone in Malta.

He had become homeless upon departure from the open centre. He knocked on our door and explained that he had just started a job working 16 hours a day and was living in a bush out in the cold. He was so timid and soft-spoken and although he appeared frail and beaten due to sleeping rough, his eyes still remained hopeful for a better life.

Providing Koji with shelter at Dar Niki Cassar helped him focus on his arduous job and his goal of attaining independent living. During this time Koji also began engaging with our professional support team and opened up about some of his traumas. These were often the cause of sleepless nights and he would some down in the early hours of the morning to speak with team members. We created a space where he could deal with his insomnia in privacy and peace.

Through his dedication to starting his new chapter and with the ongoing support from the team at DNC, Koji soon found another job with better working conditions. We collaborated on a budgeting plan and within a short while Koji had saved enough money to start looking for accommodation.

These days he lives fully independently, has maintained his job and seems happy rebuilding his life. With his increased confidence he has been able to make friends and now has this additional support system in the community. We often give Koji a call to see how he’s doing and we offer him ongoing psychological and practical support where needed.

Francesca was a mother of a seven-year-old and had a long history of physical and emotional abuse from her family. Having reached breaking point and in the best interest of her child, she finally made the decision to leave home. This led to retaliation from her family; financial support was withheld and legal battles amongst them worsened. Due to the toll that this was having on her mental wellbeing, coupled with raising her child alone, Francesca was unemployed by the time she came to us. She was also suffering from anxiety.

Francesca and her child were welcomed at the shelter and we began helping them holistically in order to give them the best chance at starting their new lives. We provided them with counselling, food donations, support in dealing with the ongoing difficulties with her family as well as encouraging the development of self-confidence and helping her find employment. Francesca started working full-time and her residential support officer helped her schedule around schooling, breakfast club, etc for her child, in order to be able to go out and work.

Upon her request, YMCA Malta also helped her reconcile with her family. Francesca valiantly worked on moving forward with her life whilst working on past traumas. At times these still overwhelmed her and she was afraid of the consequences they may have had on her child. This thought would often trigger anxiety in Francesca. She had been totally devastated by the thought that she and her child would end up living on the streets. She was truly appreciative that the YMCA had given them a roof over their heads.

We are very proud that Francesca and her child are living independently in a stable, healthy environment. Francesca is happy and in full-time employment and we still maintain regular contact to offer our support when needed. Last time we spoke she told us that she had been so lost and broken – financially, mentally and spiritually – when she had first asked for our help, but that today no one can believe how different she is.

Greta was brought up in care homes in Malta from a very young age. She had to deal with responsibilities and challenges herself at an age when most of us are cared for by parents. Greta became homeless after she left the children’s house where she had spent most of her childhood. She came to YMCA Malta seeking refuge and we saw in her a young, lost girl.

We embarked on a journey, slowly fostering trust and hope. We walked together and helped her start building a life for herself rooted in self-confidence and unconditional love. Greta took the psychological help we offered her; support from our psychotherapists and counsellors being part of her care-programme. Her assigned residential support worker helped her learn new social and life skills and she was supported in finding employment and continuing her studies.

Above all, we helped Greta find hope. We will never forget her excitement when she opened her first bank account, nor the happiness she felt the day she received her first salary. After more than a year with us, she felt confident enough to move on. Greta broke this news to us with tears in her eyes. She had now saved enough money to pay a deposit and first month’s rent. She found an apartment and we assisted her with the application process.

Greta came to us feeling lost and worthless and left us full of hope and living independently. We cannot make childhood traumas disappear, but we know that people are strong enough to work through them when they are wise enough to ask for help. Greta is still in contact with the YMCA and calls to inform us about her new adventures in independent living.

Jacob came from abroad and had been serving time in prison. Upon his release he approached the YMCA Malta. Cases like these are often more complex as the individual will need additional help readjusting and reintegrating back into the community.

As a non-discriminatory, non-judgemental and accepting organisation, Jacob felt comfortable with us and was optimistic about his future. He was very appreciative of our help and with support was able to start building his new life and lowering the chance of recidivism.

Jacob experienced a common barrier to employment with his prior conduct however with the help of YMCA’s residential support officers at Dar Niki Cassar, and in collaboration with other organisations, he managed to find a job. He also started taking English lessons. We made all necessary adjustments to accommodate Jacob with his working hours and by giving him a space to study. Our team was also on hand to assist him with his studies.

His support officer helped Jacob find shared accommodation and he was supported in moving into his new place. He was provided with essentials such as food donations, blankets and study resources.

Jacob’s story is one of success and triumph over adversity. Resettlement of homeless, ex-offenders is an essential part of reintegration back into the community, though rarely an easy task. With the outstanding determination that Jacob showed, along with the support and guidance he received from our dedicated team and care programme, he was able to beat the odds and now lives fully independently. He still comes by and visits us.

John was the first to be admitted to our residential facility after not being able to pay the increase in his monthly rent. He had not been issued a work permit and employers were abusing this by taking him on and making him work lengthy hours whilst paying him less than everybody else. John is just one example of so many others that come to us who are without documentation and exploited in this fashion. He is an example of modern slavery.

John knew that he was being treated unfairly, whether because of his skin colour, culture or lack of documentation. However he did not allow the treatment he received from others to influence his own humanity. The residents, staff and volunteers at YMCA Malta quickly became his family.

Peter came to us several months later. He and John were of the same origin and culture and connected immediately. Life for Peter seemed to be constantly working against him, opportunities for employment were scarce and most of his daily efforts amounted to simple survive in a toxic environment whereby he was not seen as an individual but as a ‘race’. He found great support in John whilst he settled in. Living with 30 others in a residential setting is not easy! He helped him realise that he could be seen, acknowledged and appreciated for who he is.

Peter in turned helped John find better employment. Spending time together after work and cooking traditional dinners became a tradition shared by all residents of the shelter. Peter and John’s bond became an invaluable lesson in compassion to the rest of the service users, as well as to us on the team.

They both worked hard and after a few months were able to find a shared apartment, lessening the financial burden for both of them. We provided them with the necessary help in transitioning into their new place. Both are still in contact with us and are doing great.

John and Peter came to us on their own but left together. They arrived feeling lost but left determined to create a better future together. The greatest lessons in life are learnt from those who know suffering. This duo taught us that together we are stronger and that connection is healing.