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A Consultative Draft Plan to End Homelessness in Bermuda

Homelessness is a social issue that is steadily growing in Bermuda. There is no common international definition for homelessness, but it is generally defined to include persons who lack stable and appropriate housing to the extent they are living without suitable shelter. A person can be homeless for several reasons:

substance abuse;
mental health issues;
domestic abuse;
breakdowns in the family;
poverty; or,
where persons have fallen on difficult times and become homeless.

In October 2023, the Ministry of Youth, Social Development and Seniors undertook a community perceptions survey in collaboration with the charitable organization HOME to obtain the community’s feedback, thoughts, and understanding of the public’s view and perception of homelessness in Bermuda. We again thank all of you who responded to that survey and provided invaluable feedback that will inform our strategies to end homelessness in Bermuda.

Now we are inviting the public to review the attached draft strategic plan that has been developed as a roadmap to end homelessness in Bermuda.

Give your thoughts, comments, and suggestions on the recommended action items that have been mapped out in the strategic plan to steer the strategy for ending homelessness. These action items reflect the collaborative work of key organizations such as STARR/Lighthouse, Teen Haven, Transformational Living Centre, the Salvation Army, Dignity House, Solstice, and the Bermuda Housing Corporation.

The consultation period for the strategic plan will extend from December 14th 2023 to February 29th 2024. After taking into consideration all of your comments and input, the strategic plan will be finalized and published on April 2024 for subsequent execution.

We look forward to receiving your comments and input during this consultation process as Homelessness in Bermuda affects everyone!

A Consultative Draft Plan to End Homelessness in Bermuda.pdf

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A Consultative Draft Plan to End Homelessness in Bermuda

A Consultative Draft Plan to End Homelessness in Bermuda

December 14, 2023 - February 29, 2024

Homelessness is a social issue that is steadily growing in Bermuda. There is no common international definition for homelessness, but it is generally defined to include persons who lack stable and appropriate housing to the extent they are living without suitable shelter. A person can be homeless for several reasons:

substance abuse;
mental health issues;
domestic abuse;
breakdowns in the family;
poverty; or,
where persons have fallen on difficult times and become homeless.

In October 2023, the Ministry of Youth, Social Development and Seniors undertook a community perceptions survey in collaboration with the charitable organization HOME to obtain the community’s feedback, thoughts, and understanding of the public’s view and perception of homelessness in Bermuda. We again thank all of you who responded to that survey and provided invaluable feedback that will inform our strategies to end homelessness in Bermuda.

Now we are inviting the public to review the attached draft strategic plan that has been developed as a roadmap to end homelessness in Bermuda.

Give your thoughts, comments, and suggestions on the recommended action items that have been mapped out in the strategic plan to steer the strategy for ending homelessness. These action items reflect the collaborative work of key organizations such as STARR/Lighthouse, Teen Haven, Transformational Living Centre, the Salvation Army, Dignity House, Solstice, and the Bermuda Housing Corporation.

The consultation period for the strategic plan will extend from December 14th 2023 to February 29th 2024. After taking into consideration all of your comments and input, the strategic plan will be finalized and published on April 2024 for subsequent execution.

We look forward to receiving your comments and input during this consultation process as Homelessness in Bermuda affects everyone!

6 contributions

2 years ago Felicia Hassan or Durham is a vagrant and has been a menace on the roadways of Pitts Bay and Serpentine Roads for years. She sleeps on private property whenever she pleases, trespasses regularly, threatens to hurt people, and disturbs the peace with her foul language. Despite the Police being called regularly by Pitts Bay and Serpentine Road residents and business owners, and her being told in writing not to continue, she continues. Why?Nothing is being done by the authorities. She is allowed to do this, Why? Her relative, Minister Weeks, Minister of National Security, has been informed. I suggest that the body of people investigating homelessness sit down with Felicia Hassan or Durham and ask her why she does this. It appears she is mentally unstable and needs help. Please help her off the street and into a better life.The picture, below, was recently taken on what would have been a peaceful Sunday afternoon. She ruined it by shouting obscenities for an hour before and after this photo was taken. She was on private property as she slept.

2 years ago Felicia Hassan or Durham is a vagrant and has been a menace on the roadways of Pitts Bay and Serpentine Roads for years. She sleeps on private property whenever she pleases, trespasses regularly, threatens to hurt people, and disturbs the peace with her foul language. Despite the Police being called regularly by Pitts Bay and Serpentine Road residents and business owners, and her being told in writing not to continue, she continues. Why?Nothing is being done by the authorities. She is allowed to do this, Why? Her relative, Minister Weeks, Minister of National Security, has been informed. I suggest that the body of people investigating homelessness sit down with Felicia Hassan or Durham and ask her why she does this. It appears she is mentally unstable and needs help. Please help her off the street and into a better life.The picture, below, was recently taken on what would have been a peaceful Sunday afternoon. She ruined it by shouting obscenities for an hour before and after this photo was taken. She was on private property as she slept.

Steve M2 years ago This is a worthy initiative and one that requires a long term view and support from multiple stakeholders. I also applaud the efforts to step into the realm of finding a path to a solution. My comments below are for assisting in the constructive development of a long term sustainable plan.Plan StructureI did have the opportunity to attend the first session, and I think the core challenge that is presented, is the vast amount of layers and issues that can result in homelessness, and usually there are multiple of these layers. My initial concern is that the plan can be too broad and too ambitious in the early stages and spread too thin around many different initiatives, which can make it difficult to demonstrate progress/success and have the appearance of not making an impact, which will then have a challenge for maintaining the support and momentum from those that are impacted by homelessness along with the key stakeholders/funders/providers of the programs.The mission outlined of “ending Homelessness” may be too broad as an initial stance given all the caused and issues outlined, and in reality, there will be very little that can be done to prevent some of the items from occurring, it is more about helping to manage that issues. Given that the number of touch points on the plan is so broad, it may be appropriate to tweak the long term purpose, as if there is even one person that is homeless, it implies that the plan has not worked, which would not be a desired outcomes from this.InitiativesHOME should initially focus in on a limited number of key programs that can provide the most support to most vulnerable populations, as it will be challenging to providing meaningful support across the 23 different types of homelessness or shelter security outlined. One of the issues that has become clear over the past period is that cost to construct new or renovate units is only commercially viable on higher end market units and there has also been a very limited number of new construction units over the years. The only plans on building, is around the Recommendation of “People experiencing homelessness or low-income families face barriers to renting”, and Insufficient housing stock is available for rough sleepers transitioning from outside andemergency accommodation”. Given the current economics at play in the property market, with limited new builds/units coming to market and high demand at the higher end (part from the growth of International Business from 2019), there is likely to be continued cost pressure of the housing market. There should be a Recommendation of how units for the most at risk can be supported further, supplementing the current Salvation Army shelter and offering options for daytime/poor weather accommodation, which is not likely to be done on normal commercial terms, which likely means either subsidies or other benefits are required to support private enterprise on any plans.Whilst the current government budget is allocating funds of close to $25million to affordable housing, there is no breakdown available as yet of how this will be deployed. As most appears to be directed to Bermuda Housing Corporation, they are generally on rental agreements, but there should be an allocation of the $25m that is set aside to support homelessness, such as expanding the current Salvation Army shelter or supplementing with another unit. I agree with the other contributor Stefan around using some of the old schools as potential shelter support, given there is the current plans to consolidate the public schools, this should leave some excess space. There would be a number of investments and measures required to make this work successful and have public buy-in, but that could be a near term opportunity to support those most at risk.Some of the other recommendations on the property market could be addressed by the real estate market, but there is no central MLS system for even listing property rentals, let alone a tracking tool. However, this is something that teaming up with real estate agents should assist with.The current landlord/tenant act is viewed as one challenge for the property market, as it effectively creates a social safety net by being more favourable towards a tenant for key parts. Whilst this can support a tenant on hard times, it will likely result in the owner being less willing to support future tenants that are viewed as having challenges. So, whilst it offers support in the near term, it may be punitive in the long term. The key part that is needed to support landlords and tenants alike is to have a clear social safety net that prevents tenants from being on the street, whilst keeping the owner able to generate a sufficient return on their property. This would be having established policies and laws that make it clear on timing, supported by a shelter or resource available to support those most in need, which is likely some expansion of the current Financial Assistance framework.The recommendations would also benefit from having inclusion of who/which party is responsible for delivery, as some of them appear to be more policy matters whereas other are more around social awareness, and a ranking system of priorities/timelines to achieve success.Best of luck with the delivery of the initiatives and look forward to seeing the success of the programs.

susan symonds2 years ago Yes I agree that government should help with this problem. No Bermudian should be homeless in our own island. This was probably due to too many foreigners taking up space by renting or buying property. The old derelict houses and buildings should be fixed with the ideal family in mind with lower rent and or mortgage to fit their budget.I think it would also be nice that both local and executive businesses pitch in to assist with this large project.

Stefan Dill2 years ago When it comes to homelessness there are a multitude of factors that have lead to it.Bermuda’s cost of living is a major contributor and would resolve a huge amount of this. Substance abuse is also a key component of this aswell.I will touch on Bermuda’s cost of living in regard's to housing. Consideration must be made into what can be done governmentally to address this. Derelict buildings many in the city as well as the government primary schools provide the perfect opportunity for affordable accommodation to be built. Living in foreign countries and seeing how they can convert office buildings in housing shows that the derelict multi level buildings in Hamilton can easily be converted to affordable apartments. Small single person, or couple studio apartments are perfect for the city and provide accessible housing to young people and those in need of modest accommodation.The lots for the primary schools being closed are ideal for family style apartments. These apartments can be similar to the ones erected in St. David’s and Paget but should be more focused on community building. Available spaces must be there for residents to meet, play and garden. All factors that are pivotal in creating a sustainable and harmonic society.

Lyn Vaughan2 years ago I am a 79 years old, Bermudian born person with various social work, volunteer experiences and other work opportunities.We try and dictate to people what they should and should not do without understanding, even when we think we do, what the individual person's life has been for them. Showing people what is possible and choices that they have and the effects of those choices without giving them varied options is not positive. I do believe that they are the best leaders in their lives and should be allowed to go the way they wish once they know what they really want.Homelessness is a multitude of shapes. Anyone in court needs a Guardian ad litem to protect them as they wish to be protected, children, people of all abilities and even "criminals". We do have standards set by our community which we need to abide by. There is much more but I would prefer discussion on the topic rather than continue my thoughts.

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