My name is Anne Agius (Gelicrisio) and I have been made homeless as a result of ceasing co-habitation with husband who subjected me to Domestic Violence, born of infidelity and support by police corruption—all in the name of power and control; and further refused to contribute a single cent in maintenance to continue rent payments in spite of me, after blowing the whistle and going public with regards to his crimes against me.

I do not qualify for welfare (as I have no work credits) nor can I claim refugee status for emergency relief. The Housing Authority have so far rejected my application for priority housing based on a technicality, which I believe can be overcome with a supporting letter from my lawyer confirming separation in process—109 Conception Street in Msida (a premises I once occupied with my husband) belongings to the Housing Authority, which according to the neighbors is still vacant...; adult shelters are all full and as a whistle blower, I do not feel it is appropriate to share a resident with troubled teens, as this may prove detriment to their recovery and possibly mine, having lost my own children three years ago who were teenagers at the time; nor am I a client of the YMCA!

I do not fit the criteria for services offered by Caritas (as it is a service for drug and alcohol related problems) nor do I require counselling via Social Services, as Domestic Violence is not a mental health concern—it’s a public health issue. Furthermore, Appoch in Msida and Pieta have previously informed me that they are not in the position to guarantee housing, they can only assist with a social worker to make applications on my behalf for housing and food voucher’s, which I have already done myself.

I have filed a police report with regards to homelessness; which is not a crime, nor am I committing one by sleeping outside. I have further communicated with The Commission of Domestic Violence, The European Union Commission, Dar Theresa Spinelli, the Director of the Catholic Church, Xarabank and local councils (and the Ministry of Social Solidarity is out of the question, due to a conflict of interest), seeking their support in terms of housing, to no avail. I have also and quite politely may I add, pressed my way into TVM with an urgent request to air my circumstances on a news report in hope to gain public attention on the chance that there is someone out there who may be able to assist with housing until such time that I am back on my feet… and just add insult to injury, my husband work’s for the Ministry of Social Solidarity and unfortunately for me, all the services mentioned above (except for the media) that I require assistance from fall under the umbrella of that particular ministry—a job promised to my husband on the condition that he ‘get’s rid of me’first paying a ball point figure of 20,000eur- p/annum..

What I am doing different to many other’s gone before me is NOT SUFFERING IN SILENCE.

I have established a website raising awareness of Domestic Violence and in the process of writing a book (aiming to get it published) titled, ‘Betrayed NOT Beaten’; a tell all publication leaving no stone unturned, exposing taboo topics— police corruption and my own personal experiences with Domestic Violence, including but not limited to stages of recovery.

I hope to establish Europe’s first Rehabilitation Centre for women and children of domestic violence, called ‘Trent-Esta-007’; which I hope will reduce the alarming figures in Malta (currently on the rise) by half over the next 5 years, should the prime minister offer an empty building that can be renovated to meet safety standards to operate such a project for community benefit.

I feel it is now my responsibility to give something back for the very reason that I am still standing; to assist others to break the addictive abusive cycle of Domestic Violence and with your help, give it a voice—because to violence against women, Malta say’s no!