Men accounted for 75 per cent of all individuals who sought support from Malta's homeless services in 2024, according to data presented by Prof Sue Vella during the PROMISE - Anti Poverty Forum joint conference A Place to Call Home: Reimagining Homelessness. The figures highlight a persistent gender disparity and shed light on the wider structural challenges driving homelessness across the country.
Speaking on behalf of the Department of Social Policy and Social Work at the University of Malta, Prof. Vella outlined the demographic makeup of the 535 people supported by the FSWS Homeless Service last year. Of these, 267 were new cases presented for the first time, signalling both ongoing pressures and emerging vulnerabilities.
Women accounted for 25% of the cases, while men formed the overwhelming majority. Prof. Vella noted that this imbalance reflects wider patterns of instability, with men more likely to face difficulties linked to precarious employment, substance use, mental health challenges and social isolation.
Age-related data reveals a similarly broad spread. Around 10 per cent of individuals seeking homelessness support were aged 0 to 17, while the largest group-60 per cent-fell between the ages of 18 and 39. A further 40 per cent were aged between 40 and 54. The predominance of working-age adults, Prof. Vella said, suggests "deep systemic barriers" that prevent people in their most economically active years from securing stable housing.
Nationality also plays a significant role. The FSWS figures show that 65 per cent of those supported in 2024 were foreign nationals, compared to 35 per cent Maltese. Prof. Vella stressed that this points to unique pressures faced by migrants, including limited support networks, unstable employment, and disproportionate exposure to high private rental costs.
Despite these indicators, Malta continues to lack a single national definition of homelessness, creating gaps in data collection. Prof. Vella highlighted that the 2021 Census reported only six cases of primary homelessness and 366 secondary cases-figures that do not reflect the scale of demand seen by social services. The FSWS Homeless Service currently works with a definition aligned with the ETHOS Light framework, which categorises homelessness across rooflessness, houselessness, couch-surfing, and risk of homelessness.
In 2024, the service classified 335 individuals as at risk of homelessness, 185 as roofless, 23 as couch-surfing, and 27 as unspecified. These figures were reinforced by related data from other agencies. YMCA Malta assisted 450 people in 2024, and nearly 300 cases were recorded in the first six months of 2025 alone, with 180 provided shelter. Thirty-seven individuals transitioned to independent living, a notable increase compared to previous periods. Meanwhile, the Housing Authority received 137 homelessness-related applications in 2024, including cases stemming from evictions, correctional services, domestic violence, rehabilitation and medical vulnerabilities.
Institutional records also indicate crossover with health and addiction services. In 2023, Mount Carmel Hospital reported 17 cases involving homeless persons with substance-abuse disorders, highlighting the intersecting layers of disadvantage affecting many individuals.
Prof. Vella outlined several ongoing policy measures, including the Public Social Partnership model, which allocated €1.57 million in 2024 to boost NGO-run shelters, and the FSWS Homeless Service launched in 2022 to provide assessment, referrals and long-term support. She also referred to the 2025-2035 National Strategy for the Reduction of Poverty and Social Exclusion and the Foundation for Affordable Housing, created in 2022 to expand long-term affordable accommodation.
However, she stressed that Malta still lacks a dedicated national homelessness strategy. Without a single responsible ministry or clear governance structure, Prof. Vella said service provision remains fragmented and reactive. The social housing waiting list, which currently stands at 1,674 people, continues to outstrip available supply, prolonging housing insecurity.
Other challenges include the limited availability of low-threshold shelters equipped to support people with complex needs such as addiction and mental health issues. Prof. Vella also noted concerns about the increasing criminalisation of homelessness in situations where no public disturbance occurs. Rent-benefit eligibility requirements, which oblige applicants to co-finance rent, create what she described as a "catch-22" for jobless individuals unable to secure stable accommodation beforehand.
Shelters have additionally reported growing vulnerability among older adults, with some entering homelessness for the first time. Prof. Vella argued that tailored interventions are needed for this group, who often face mobility issues, health challenges and reduced access to the labour market.
Looking forward, she called for the adoption of a national definition of homelessness based on the ETHOS Light framework, enabling consistent data and coordinated policy design. A dedicated anti-homelessness strategy, aligned with the EU's 2030 target to end homelessness, was highlighted as a critical step.
Prof. Vella also urged the expansion of low-threshold shelters, the strengthening of early-intervention measures to prevent evictions-particularly within the private rental sector-and the acceleration of social housing development through direct provision and regulatory incentives. She emphasised the need to move towards a Housing First approach, placing stable housing at the centre of support services.
Her address concluded with a call for long-term, cross-ministerial collaboration to ensure that homelessness in Malta is addressed with the scale and urgency it demands.