Charity appeals for help to find homes for seniors
A charity dedicated to ending homelessness in Bermuda appealed for people to come forward to help house seniors.
Home said it is contacted by three to four seniors a week in need of assistance in finding a place to live, owing to limited spaces available at organisations such as the Bermuda Housing Trust.
As a result, it asked the public to contact the charity if they have an apartment or even a room that they are prepared to rent out.
Keishen Bean, Home’s case manager supervisor, said the organisation offered transitional housing, but with a lack of places to move on to, the seniors often stayed for long periods or chose to move outside.
“What we’re trying to do is see what other options we have out there,” said Mr Bean.
“We know that when the community pulls together we can solve a lot and this is one of those things that we’re looking to get more support from the community on.”
He said Home had many people who had been through its programmes with the skill sets to fix up properties and also worked with organisations like Habitat for Humanity, which helps to renovate homes.
Staff at the charity see different types of homelessness — from couch surfers to rough sleepers.
However, Mr Bean added: “With the seniors, it’s becoming tough and we want these seniors to be living out the rest of their days in comfortable living environments.
“If people have a room, a small studio or apartment, if they are empty nesters interested in exploring options, Home would love them to contact us.”
Mr Bean added: “I would say we are coming in contact with maybe three or four seniors a week who are calling us, looking for housing support.”
The Royal Gazette, in conjunction with stakeholders including Home, has launched its Ending Homelessness campaign to remind the community that people affected by homelessness matter.
Home, and others, want to end homelessness. So do we. We want your support. We want you to change your perception of members of the unsheltered population. We want you to help lobby for simple changes. We want you to show compassion.
Homeless people want to work so that they can be self-sufficient. They did not choose to be homeless, and in many cases their plight was brought about by systemic failings in this country.
In 2010, the Bermuda Census identified 82 people experiencing homelessness. By 2016, that number had risen to 138.
According to Home, the Department of Statistics developed those estimates based on counting rough sleepers and the population housed in the Salvation Army emergency shelter.
As of December 31, 2023, Home recorded Bermuda’s homeless population as 811.
He said some were classed as chronic homeless, who had been without a home for ten years or more, but others found that they no longer had family support or were widowed, struggling to meet basic expectations and had been evicted.
Finance, said Mr Bean, also played a role. He added: “Not everyone is blessed to have a pension.”
Seniors have told Home that the cost for rest homes in Bermuda was too expensive for their fixed income.
“They have also shared [that] there are long wait lists for rest homes and if they do get an interview, they may be denied because they are still able to live independently,” said Mr Bean.
“Individuals who don't have a pension perhaps can apply for non-contributory pension or financial assistance, but their options are limited at this point, specifically, the housing options.
• To offer help, e-mail Keishen Bean at keishen@home.bm or call 599-9931
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