---
title: Vincenzian Missionaries Inaugurate Rehabilitation Center for Homeless and Ex-Prisoners in Albania
url: https://www.faithfulnews.com/en/vincenzian-missionaries-inaugurate-rehabilitation-center-for-homeless-and-ex-prisoners-in-albania
published: 2026-10-06T16:48:58+00:00
language: en
section: Mission and Aid
source: https://www.agensir.it/europa/2026/10/03/albania-missionari-vincenziani-una-casa-per-senza-dimora-ed-ex-detenuti-per-ritrovare-dignita-speranza-e-autonomia/
organizations: Missionari Vincenziani, Dignitas Infinita, Archdiocese of Scutari, Ministry of Justice
publisher: FaithfulNews
---

# Vincenzian Missionaries Inaugurate Rehabilitation Center for Homeless and Ex-Prisoners in Albania

The Vincenzian Missionaries inaugurated a new residential facility named Dignitas Infinita in the northern region of Albania. The center, located in the village of Vinoteka within the Archdiocese of Scutari, was opened in late August to provide housing and rehabilitation services for men experiencing homelessness and former prisoners. The facility is designed to serve as a transitional space that supports individuals in regaining autonomy and dignity before they move into independent living arrangements.

The primary objective of the project is to offer protection and rehabilitation opportunities to men in difficult circumstances. The center specifically targets individuals without a fixed residence, former inmates, and prisoners serving alternative sentences. The duration of stay is not standardized but is tailored to the specific needs of each resident to prevent a return to fragile conditions. The facility aims to be a passage toward autonomous life in state structures or other favorable environments. The center also offers an experimental service, subject to agreement with the Ministry of Justice, to accommodate prisoners serving alternative sentences who lack both a home and family support.

The operational model of the center focuses on providing a family-like atmosphere characterized by benevolence and affection. Residents receive care in both spiritual and physical dimensions, including food, lodging, medical care, judicial assistance, and psychosocial activities. The goal is to help individuals rediscover their inherent dignity, which may have been obscured by past failures, incarceration, or abandonment. The center emphasizes that no one is judged for their past errors, and the person is welcomed based on their dignity. The name Dignitas Infinita reflects the Vincenzian commitment to supporting individuals whose ontological dignity has been affected by negative life events.

The service began five years ago with the first guest, Kastriot, at the Vincenzian Missionaries' house in Grude e Re, on the outskirts of Scutari. The initial intent was to share the residential structure with the poorest individuals. More than ten people have been welcomed since that time. The need for an independent facility arose to improve organization and provide specific services. The center moved to an autonomous structure in Vinoteka, located three kilometers from Grude e Re. Currently, there is one resident, and the facility is waiting for others. The maximum capacity of the center is eight guests.

The spiritual formation offered includes prayer, the day in Christ, and reading the Word of God to help residents find their center in God. The approach involves looking inward to gather the fragmented pieces of one's person around an inner center. This process aims to give meaning to life and find unity and identity. The missionaries follow the style suggested by Pope Francis, emphasizing proximity, compassion, and tenderness, recognizing the poor as their masters. They aim to enter the lives of their guests with respect, acknowledging the sacred nature of their stories.

Despite recent infrastructure improvements, fixed salary increases, and moderate tourism development, poverty in Albania is increasing in rural and mountainous areas. The country suffers from the emigration of young people to wealthier nations and widespread corruption in social and political life. While social policies for orphans, women in difficulty, and people with disabilities have improved, shelters for homeless men are almost non-existent. Former prisoners, many of whom are abandoned or without families, are left entirely to themselves upon release. Many former inmates request short-term accommodation for a few days or months before finding more stable arrangements.

## This story in other languages

- [Español](https://www.faithfulnews.com/es/misioneros-vincenzianos-inauguran-centro-de-acogida-en-albania)
- [Português (Brasil)](https://www.faithfulnews.com/pt-br/nova-casa-para-sem-teto-e-ex-detentos-e-inaugurada-na-albania)