A Church home which offers shelter to homeless young men has suffered a major fall in donations ever since it started offering refuge to young asylum seekers. Fr Savio Vella, director of Dar Osanna Pia, said that the home started taking in unaccompanied minors seeking asylum 10 years ago and donations have since fallen flat.

Over the years he says that he has been approached by people who specifically informed him they had stopped donating because “Osanna Pia is housing foreigners”.

“I am proud to be Maltese because we are so generous – but our fear when it comes to immigrants is hindering our kindness."

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