Around 1,300 families turned to Caritas Malta for support in the past year, while the organisation’s community centre has helped around 700 people battling drug addiction, Caritas Director Anthony Gatt said on Wednesday

Prime Minister Robert Abela together with Gatt inaugurated the new Caritas Community Centre, a flagship facility in Hamrun on Wednesday.

The project cost €2 million secured from European Union funds, and an additional €1 million being funded from the government’s National Development and Social Fund (NDSF), which is made up of the gains of the country’s golden passport scheme.  

Gatt spoke at a press conference at Caritas, saying that the poor deserves the best, where Caritas will offer a new building to help those who are materially deprived. He said that the project will help around 1,300 families.

Secretary General of Caritas Europa Maria Nyman also attended the inauguration, saying that Caritas has the mission to always try to be close to the person individually, offering hope, empowerment and ensuring that the dignity of the individual is at the core.

She said that the building will offer a place of hope and a place to restore relations within the person.

A video was shown during the press conference, detailing how Caritas offers services of support groups for people undergoing separations, widows as well as those who are vulnerable and experiencing difficult situations.

Chairman of the Alfred Mizzi Foundation Julian Sammut said that as a strategic partner of Caritas, it has provided over 100,000 meals for the vulnerable. He said that in the next weeks, the foundation will open a remote soup kitchen, where it will provide hundreds of meals to be distributed to people by Caritas.

In his speech, Prime Minister Robert Abela said that the centre will help raise people up and help them reach their full potential. He said that Caritas does not judge the person, but gives them a second chance to be able to contribute to the country.

Abela thanked the professionals and volunteers working at Caritas who have worked tirelessly for those in need.

He said that government gave financial support of over €2 million from European funds, while another €1 million was given from the NDSF.

Abela said that Budget measures have ensured that those most vulnerable receive all the help they can get, such as compensation for the higher cost of living, credits towards workers experiencing difficulties in their mental health and the €10,000 grant for first-time buyers.

Archbishop of Malta Charles Scicluna said that there is the responsibility to help one another to feel a sense of belonging in difficult moments.

“Caritas is a concrete example of the Church’s teachings which leads to hope for those vulnerable,” he said.