Earlier this month, it was announced that a building is being developed into a living space that can house 14 people who, after concluding their rehabilitation for substance abuse, have nowhere to live.

The project is being carried out by Caritas, in collaboration with the Housing Authority.

Overcoming substance addiction is one of the hardest things a person can do, and for those who fell victim to substance abuse, it is the most important thing to do.

Substance addiction can tear families apart, lead people to committing other crimes such as theft, and can ruin lives. It is not easy for those in such a situation to pick themselves up off the ground and take the steps needed to get rid of their habits and addiction, but organisations like Caritas offer the support needed to help people succeed. Such organisations play an important part in society, aimed at helping those who need support.

Ideally, family members and loved ones would be willing to be of emotional support for those trying to recover, but this may not always be the case. In some cases, families would want real proof of change before being open to welcoming someone back into their lives. Some might be willing to talk, but not willing to bring people who had fallen into addiction back into their homes. Other times, relations might be completely severed. In all these cases, those who fell victim to substance abuse deserve a chance to overcome their problems and rebuild their lives. Organisations like Caritas provide that chance.

But addiction is not something which, once a person has passed through a programme, just vanishes. It takes a lifelong commitment, and having people around to help is a must. If, after completing a drug rehabilitation programme, a person has nowhere to live, then the chance of them falling back into old habits is higher. Such person might also be a single parent with a child, which makes it all the more important to ensure that they stick the course and never fall back to addiction.

Caritas already has Dar Charles Miceli which operates in a semi-residential setting akin to a halfway house, providing a supportive environment where individuals can rebuild their lives. But expanding its list of facilities with this new building offers further support.

Caritas Malta's Director, Anthony Gatt, said that this space will be dedicated for people who have nearly fully recovered from their substance abuse through Caritas' processes. He noted that this process can take around two years before getting to this point.

Gatt said that residents will be allowed to reside in this building for six months, with the possibility to extend this to a maximum of two years. It is aimed for this site to serve as a temporary residence till its residents get back on their feet accommodation-wise.

It offers a further stepping stone back into society for those who otherwise would have nowhere to live. Initiatives like this can be the difference between being able to succeed long-term, or not.