Dar Tereża Spinelli will be benefitting from €560,000 over the course of 3 years thanks to a Public Social Partnership (PSP) agreement with the Social Solidarity, Family and Children's Rights Ministry.
Dar Tereża Spinelli is a shelter under the remit of Fondazzjoni Suret il-Bniedem which provides a home to girls or women who find themselves without a roof on their head. The foundation has a number of other shelters under its wing including one dedicated to boys or men as well as three mental homes, with another planned to be set up in Gozo.
"When someone loses their home, they lose their dignity. When they start rebuilding their life through a job, therapy and other services, you can see a massive change," said Father Carmelo Aquilina, a carer at the shelter.
The shelter in question takes up to 15 girls or women at a time, and their can also be children depending on circumstances.
Father Aquilina said that they put a limit on the amount of people because there is a difference between homelessness and rooflessness - "you never want anyone to feel imposed on when they find a home which is why we think it is better for people to have their own space until they take their leave."
It is highly encouraged for residents to stay at the home for a maximum of one year, however, the length of the stay heavily depends on the circumstances.
During their stay, a number of social workers, coordinators and care workers from Appoġġ are available to work together on a care plan with the residents in order to help them move forward.
Father Aquilina praised the ministry for all this financial aid, saying that the money to upkeep the shelter comes from the ministry, apart from certain fundraising events to which the community contributes as well.
"This is an agreement that has already existed between the ministry and the foundation but is now being extended for another three years," Minister Michael Falzon explained while presiding over the signing of the PSP agreement.
The government has allocated almost €17 million to such PSP agreements which means that this year's budget is six times more than the funds allocated 7 years ago; €3 million. Additionally the number of agreements back then amounted to only 3 entities while nowadays this number has increased to 48 entities.
"If one looks at the NGOs one can see that most of the operational side of things are financed by government funds, showing how the government truly appreciates their work," Falzon concluded.
Photos: Alenka Falzon