As Home’s supervising case manager, I hear the stories of people experiencing homelessness every day. It has become abundantly clear to me that their needs go beyond simply finding a home.

There are always root causes that have brought them to this difficult point. Understanding the context is critical in helping them to get back on their feet. Simply putting them into an apartment and expecting them to transition to stable, independent living is unrealistic.

By describing my work at Home, I hope to shed light on the realities behind homelessness in Bermuda and the courage and determination of the individuals who come to us, as they battle to overcome their challenges.

Helping people is the right fit for me. I grew up on Roberts Avenue in Devonshire, where my mother, Nichole Williams, would sometimes allow homeless individuals to stop by to have a shower and a plate of food. My upbringing taught me how to empathise and how to motivate people who are down to lift themselves up.

My entire career has involved working with at-risk people. Before I joined Home three years ago, I spent four years as a residential care officer for the Department of Child and Family Services in a youth-group home setting, and eight years as an educational therapist assistant with the Ministry of Education.

Sadly, some of the clients I had in my previous roles have become my clients again at Home several years later. For me, this reinforces the reality that there are groups whose circumstances put them at a higher risk of falling into homelessness in Bermuda. Especially those who have experienced significant adversity in childhood, including abuse, neglect and household dysfunction.

A study by Unity Health Toronto, for example, found that nine out of ten homeless adults had suffered at least one adverse childhood experience. Childhood trauma has long-lasting effects with consequences for learning, behaviour and relationships.

At Home, we strive to understand the specific needs of each individual we serve, to address their trauma and gain their trust. Often, their family dynamics and friendships have broken down and we become their one constant, which can feel like a heavy responsibility.

Some of them come to us saying they don’t want any of the case management; they just want a home. These can be the most challenging clients to work with because they do not realise how far they are from the goal of sustainable, independent living.

Even if we were able to find a house and a job for that person, they would soon run into problems, if the underlying reasons for why they are in difficulty — which could be childhood trauma, abuse, abandonment, or grief, for example — are not addressed.

Each person has a unique set of specific needs. We are not medical doctors, drug counsellors or mental health professionals, but our role as case managers is to help give our clients access to the resources they need.

Often, we find they are not aware that these services are available. Navigating the system is particularly difficult for people who have been often disconnected from society for some time.

This is why Home and the collaboratively produced Plan to End Homelessness advocate for a citizen-centric rather than service-led approach to homelessness, enabled by a centralised case-management system, linking all service providers and putting the person in need at the centre. Providing the wraparound support vulnerable people need is key to helping them to progress towards and sustain stable living in their own home.

Case managers are there to encourage our clients to seize opportunities and take positive paths. When it comes to motivating people, I can draw on my sporting background. As an experienced footballer and a former captain of the national team, I know how to work with a team and make sure everyone is pulling in the right direction.

During the course of our eight-week Housing-First programme at Black Circle, where we have helped 12 cohorts of clients to access the tools and services they need for independent living — from a bank account to doctor’s appointments, from employment opportunities to managing grocery purchases — we provide intensive case management throughout.

We seek to create a motivating, secure, positive and supportive environment. The case-management support does not end when an individual completes the programme. Some clients have been with me for all of my three years at Home. That is not because they have not made progress, but there are simply times they need support — for example, help in understanding a rental agreement, or their roles and responsibilities as a tenant. Never do we just drop them. They will have our support for as long as they need it.

The major barrier impeding individuals from achieving the goal of independent living is the lack of affordable housing in Bermuda. So often we see someone work hard for months, and they are doing well, they are saving up, the mental health is stabilised, they are managing their addiction, or whatever challenges they may have. And when they are ready to take on the responsibility of their own home, there are no affordable places available. It’s tough to see this happen, again and again.

There are also many people struggling to stay in their homes, particularly single-income households, or single parents and their children. There are more than 800 people experiencing homelessness in Bermuda and many more at risk of falling into homelessness. Bermuda, we have an affordable housing crisis and we must address it with urgency.

• Keishen Bean is a supervising case manager at Home who previously served as a residential care officer for the Department of Child and Family Services, and as an educational therapist assistant with the Ministry of Education. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Community Studies from Cape Breton University, and is former captain of the national football team. Keishen can be reached by e-mailing keishen@home.bm or by calling 599-9931