Homeless people should be treated with empathy and compassion and given a chance to tell their story.

That was the message from one former homeless woman who has turned her life around after years of abuse, neglect, mental challenges and poverty.

Althea Iris gave a moving speech to a gathering outside City Hall this afternoon as the island marked World Homelessness Day.

Ms Iris said that she had not had “a normal life” after her mother died in childbirth when she was only two years old.

She was eventually adopted and lived in a home with 22 other people. But it was not a loving upbringing.

“I became an invisible child because my adopted family were party animals and so I got lost in the crowd,“ she said.

As an adult, Ms Iris and her husband — who was also orphaned and had had a problematic childhood and a criminal record — were repeatedly evicted from homes because they could not afford to pay the rent.

The couple eventually moved into an abandoned property, which was to become their home for 13 years. While her husband scraped a living hustling for painting jobs, Ms Iris developed mental health issues and a habit of hoarding.

Her husband, who suffered from substance abuse, abandoned her after 25 years “because he could not cope”. He died in 2016.

Ms Iris’s life took a completely different direction after she got help from Dignity House, a charity that provides mental support for the homeless. She would eventually be diagnosed as bipolar and suffering from depression.

She said: “Dignity House is where my stabilisation has happened. I don’t horde any more. I don’t overtalk any more. I don’t smoke any more.”

She said that the therapy she received taught her to embrace acceptance, change, and forgiveness.

Ms Iris is now employed by Dignity House and “stable”, although she continues to take medication.

She said: “I have to be humble to continue to take my medicines as I’m more naturopathic than pharmaceutical. But I can tell you that people look at me and if they haven’t seen me for a year they don’t recognise me.

“And so whatever I’ve been doing, I’m going to keep on doing it.”

Ms Iris’s message to those sleeping rough was simple: never give up hope.

She said: “When I was living in abandoned house I always had dreams that life would be better and that was because I had a relationship with God and he says in his word that a man without his dream is dead and I can tell you that I’m a dreamer.

“I want to speak to the people who are going through their challenges to never give up hope, to always to tell your story with pride. Don’t worry about the naysayers because they don’t understand and with our lives they can see the difference in us when we start to walk in the light.”

To the wider community, she said: “I have done a lot of soul-searching in the last two weeks and I just know that for every member of the community who has a story of homelessness, they do have a story and I wish that you will be able to think of them with empathy and compassion, not measuring them but having a chance to hear their story, maybe. In a small Bermuda we should be able to be victorious.

“I still dream of the same thing — a Bermuda without homelessness and I would like to be able to live out my passion to see that people who don’t have a voice can have a voice.”

Corporation of Hamilton councillor John Harvey opened the event and said it represented an opportunity for the community to become involve in tackling homelessness.

“The city of Hamilton stands at the epicentre of this pressing issue where dozens of men and women find themselves in unfortunate situations and scenarios on any given day,” he added.

“We recognise that homelessness is a complex issue that demands careful consideration and nuance for solutions.

“While the challenges are substantial, I take solace in the fact that comprehensive plans are in motion to find lasting solutions.“

Tinée Furbert, the Minister of Social Development and Seniors, explained how her ministry and a host of charities and other organisations had joined forces in the past year to take a collaborative approach to the issue.

A steering committee and advisory panel have been developing a strategy on homelessness, which is expected to be complete by the end of the year.

Ms Furbert said: “Over the years, successive administrations have sought to implement solutions to Bermuda's homelessness challenges. But to date, there has been no sustainable solution.

“What is clear is that the Government alone cannot end homelessness in Bermuda. A long-term strategy is what is required that involves the partnership of Bermuda’s many service providers, stakeholders and support organisations.”

Ms Furbert also reminded residents that the Government was seeking input from the public on the issue through a questionnaire, which can be found here.

She said: “This international day serves as a platform to advocate for improved policies and resources that can help prevent and end homelessness.

“All our combined efforts will make Bermuda a safe, affirming, and dignified place for all.”

Denise Carey, the chief executive officer of homeless charity Home, also spoke.

She said: “For many of us home is a safe haven, our place for living, our comfort zone. The sad reality is that about 650 people in Bermuda have no place to call home.

“Homelessness represents an infringement of basic human rights. Out of compassion for our fellow human beings, homelessness must be unacceptable for all of us.”

She said Home regarded homelessness as a public service matter rather than a housing matter, and that a “whole system approach” with all agencies working together “to provide wraparound support”.

She said: “We can end homelessness in Bermuda. Yes we can.”