At YMCA Malta, we’ve spent the last five decades working with and for individuals facing homelessness, hardship, and marginalisation. As we approach our 50th anniversary in September 2026, we are not only looking back—we’re boldly looking forward.

Today, we’re proud to launch DAR: Not Just a Word. A Right! A national campaign that captures the heart of our mission: to ensure every person in Malta has access to dignity, support, and a safe place to call home.

Why “DAR”?

In Maltese, the word dar means “home.” But DAR is also our acronym standing for Dignity, Access, and Refuge. These three pillars have guided our work over the years and are the foundation for what comes next.

Too many people in our communities are still living without these essentials. Through this campaign, we’re turning that around—one story, one act of solidarity, one home at a time.

Our Vision

• Raise awareness of the realities of homelessness in Malta
• Engage the public through storytelling, challenges, and public events
• Launch new funding opportunities for shelter, mental health care, and reintegration services
• Advocate for more inclusive national policy around housing and support services

What to Expect

In the lead-up to our 50th anniversary, we’re launching a year-long journey of impact—starting with the DAR Telethon on 20th September 2025. This 12-hour live event will feature powerful stories, community engagement, music, and a united call to action.

Throughout the coming months, we’ll also introduce:

• “Skip it for DAR” challenge – skip a luxury item and donate €10 to change a life
• “Adopt-a-DAR” programme – sponsor €250 to symbolically adopt dignity, access, or refuge
• €365 for DAR pledge – give just €1 a day to provide someone with a full year of support
• The DAR Giving Circle – for supporters who want to make a transformative gift of €1,000 or more

How You Can Help

This campaign belongs to all of us. Whether you’re an individual, a school, a business, or a community group, there’s a way for you to be part of DAR:

• Donate or join one of our giving initiatives
• Share our stories on social media
• Host a Skip it Challenge or community fundraiser
• Partner with us through CSR or sponsorship opportunities
• Volunteer during the Telethon or campaign events

Let’s Make the Next 50 Years Count

DAR is more than a word, it’s a call to action. Let’s ensure that every person in Malta can live with dignity, access the support they need, and find true refuge.

Join us. Share the message. Help us build a future where everyone has a place to call home.

Social Justice in Malta Today: A Closer Look at Homelessness and YMCA Malta’s Role

In recent years, without any doubt, Malta has experienced significant economic growth. However, beneath this prosperity lies a growing concern: social justice, particularly in the field of homelessness. While official statistics indicate a decline in poverty and material deprivation, the reality on the ground tells a different story.

The Hidden Crisis: Homelessness in Malta

According to the National Statistics Office (NSO), in 2023, 16.6% of the Maltese population was at risk of poverty. Additionally, 4.1% experienced severe material and social deprivation. These figures, while concerning, may not fully capture the extent of homelessness in the country.

At YMCA Malta, we have been addressing homelessness for several years, and we constantly report on the troubling increase of individuals seeking assistance. In 2024 alone, we assisted 560 individuals facing severe financial difficulties or extreme circumstances, averaging 43 new cases per month. Particularly alarming is the rise in homelessness among the elderly. In 2024, 39 clients aged 60 and above sought help from YMCA, including three individuals over 80 years old. This marks a significant increase from previous years, highlighting the inadequacy of pensions in covering the rising cost of living.

Children are not spared from this crisis. A study published by YMCA in 2022 reveals that 40 children under the age of four were referred to our homeless shelters. Over the past decade, YMCA received 517 children under 18 who have experienced homelessness in Malta.

YMCA Malta: A Pillar of Support

At YMCA Malta we play a crucial role in addressing homelessness through various initiatives:

• Homeless Shelters: Providing immediate housing solutions for individuals and families in crisis. To date, we provide 52 beds per night – an addition of 10 beds per night are in the pipeline to assist 60+ individuals. All shelters at YMCA are partially funded by the Ministry for Social Policy & Children’s Rights under a service agreement.
• Drop-In Centre in Ħamrun: A facility where roofless individuals can access basic amenities, such as lockers, laundry services, and social support. Since moving from Valletta to Hamrun, this Centre has welcomed 800+ individuals with 13,348 visits, 2,698 showers, 1,691 washing loads, 2,400 clothing giveaways, 9,059 meals, €66,185.91 in food bags, 9,288 cups of coffee, 1,049 computer/internet sessions, and 2,025 phone calls. Over 2,401 social work interventions helped users move towards temporary accommodation, employment, and independent living. This operation depends on the generosity of the community and CSRs.
• Y Visible Outreach Service: Volunteers engage with homeless individuals across Malta, offering food, clothing, and assistance in accessing services.
• Continuous Awareness Campaigns: Initiatives like the “Ego Sum” exhibition humanize homelessness and challenge stereotypes.
• Preventative Initiatives & Services: Counselling, psychotherapy, talks, and youth work prevent vulnerable individuals from falling through society’s cracks. By addressing mental health, emotional resilience, and early social justice awareness, we reduce the risk of homelessness and social exclusion. YMCA’s proactive approach empowers people to navigate life before crises arise, building a culture of compassion, responsibility, and early intervention.

Despite these efforts, YMCA faces challenges in meeting the growing demand for services. Our shelters often operate at full capacity, and funding remains a constant concern. In 2023, our fundraising marathon soliDARjeta’ raised over €225,000, yet the organization requires between €900,000 and €1 million annually to sustain its operations.

The Path Forward: A Call to Action

The increasing rates of homelessness in Malta underscore the need for a comprehensive national strategy. Such a plan should include:

• Accurate Data Collection: Implementing systems to accurately track homelessness statistics.
• Collaborative Efforts: Encouraging cooperation among NGOs, government agencies, and community organizations.
• Preventive Measures: Addressing root causes such as affordable housing shortages, unemployment, and family breakdowns.

As citizens, supporting organizations like YMCA Malta through donations, volunteering, and advocacy can make a significant difference. Together, we can work towards a more just and compassionate society.

Keywords: homelessness Malta, social issues Malta, homeless support Malta

When people think of Malta, they often picture the Mediterranean sunshine, thriving tourism, and a booming economy. But behind the postcard-perfect image lies a growing reality too many overlook: homelessness in Malta is on the rise and rapidly so.

In the first half of 2025, YMCA Malta recorded a 55.14% increase in demand for shelter services. This is not a minor spike; it is a sign of a worsening social crisis that can no longer be ignored.

The Numbers Behind the Reality

Between January and June 2025, our residential teams sheltered 180 individuals, with a sharp rise from 71 in Q1 to 109 in Q2—an increase of over 50%, despite no increase in bed capacity. Referrals also more than doubled, jumping from 97 in Q1 to 201 in Q2, showing both increased visibility of our services and growing community need.

Importantly, this is not an issue affecting only certain groups. In 2024, over 53.87% of our clients were Maltese nationals, challenging the misconception that homelessness is only experienced by non-locals or transient populations.

Myths That Hold Us Back

One of the biggest obstacles to tackling homelessness in Malta is misinformation. Many assume people experiencing homelessness are simply jobless or choose this lifestyle. But our data shows otherwise.

The majority of our service users are facing systemic issues such as the rising rent, low wages, mental health challenges, family breakdowns, or eviction. Others are working, but cannot afford stable housing. Homelessness is rarely a personal failure. It is a social failure—one we all have a role in addressing.

The Ħamrun Drop-in Centre: A Frontline of Hope

YMCA Malta’s Ħamrun Drop-in Centre serves as a bridge between crisis and recovery. In the first half of 2025 alone, we registered over 5,000 total visits. People came not just for food or shelter, but for:

• Showers (700 uses in Q1+Q2)
• Laundry services (up by 51% in Q2)
• Internet access, psychosocial support, and community

These are not luxuries—they’re essentials that restore dignity, stability, and trust.
The centre also links clients to long-term housing, employment pathways, and therapeutic services. It’s a place where people can begin again.

From Crisis to Transition: Real Results

Our efforts are not just reactive—they’re transformational. In Q2 alone, 37 people successfully moved on from emergency accommodation to more stable living, up from just 10 in Q1. That’s a 270% improvement in outcomes in just three months.

This shift didn’t happen by chance. It is the result of coordinated efforts by YMCA’s services team, social workers, interns, and volunteers who work tirelessly behind the scenes.

What This Means for Malta

Homelessness is no longer invisible in Malta; it’s just often hidden behind closed doors or social silence. But these Q1 & Q2 figures prove that the need is growing, and so must our collective response.

The good news? Hope is scaling too. We’ve launched new youth and family programmes, doubled in-kind donations, and seen growing community trust in our services.
Still, this crisis demands more than charity: it demands justice. We must shift how we talk about homelessness, who we think it affects, and how we respond.

What You Can Do

• Speak up – Challenge misconceptions when you hear them.
• Support organisations – Volunteer, donate, or partner with NGOs like YMCA Malta.
• Advocate – Push for housing policies that prioritise people, not profit.

Homelessness in Malta is a human issue. And every number in our report represents a person with a story, a name, and a right to dignity. Together, we can transform statistics into solutions and make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring.