"Jamel" is adamant that he is not a gang member.

But the 25-year-old admits that he could be considered to be part of the "Frontline crew" a neighbourhood group centred on Court Street.

And he admits that he has to take care when he is going to other parts of the Island because of the risk of violence from other "crews".

Jamel said he has been living on the streets or living in teen homes since he was 13.

While he was out on the streets, he picked up some hustles selling drugs, something he admits he still does because it is a means of survival for him.

Homeless since the age of 13, this single father said he left home after getting into an altercation with his brother over a missing jacket.

"He couldn't find it and thought I took it," he said. "He tried to cut me with a knife. I told my mother, either he leaves or I leave. She took his side, so I left."

Jamel (not his real name) said from there he bounced from pillar to post and spent many nights sleeping in the trees or abandoned houses - while still attending high school.

"I even used to study the guards' scheduled rounds at the old Canadian base and slept there as well," he said.

"It was hard at first, but I found it easier to survive after I found older people who gave me a hustle selling drugs for them. Initially, I did it as a way to cover my basic needs."

Things took a turn for the worse for the teenager when he was caught riding bikes underage and sentenced to the Youth Development Centre.

Even when allowed to return to his mother for weekend visits, he refused to go because of her stipulation that he attend church with her.

"Basically, I lived there (in a group home) for two years straight. They were cool, though.

"They would let me leave for the day because they knew I would come back. I had nowhere else to go."

When Jamel was released into his mother's care once he turned 18, he said he remained there for a short time while he sought a job.

After a month of fruitless searching, his mother banned him from being in her home when she wasn't there.

"She would leave home at 6 in the morning and not come back until 10 at night.

"I had no money for food, bus fare, nothing. So, I had no choice but to go back to the streets," he said.

"They were like a second home to me."

Recently, he worked in a white collar environment but quit his job because he found himself homeless once again.

"I loved my job, but when you are homeless, it's difficult to get ready for work every day," he lamented.

Although he is working full-time again, he still finds himself selling drugs in order to pay his rent or feed his children, an action, he said, he realised stigmatised him.

Jamel accepted he is considered to be a part of the `Frontline' crew, although at times he said he asks people not to label him.

"I'm not disrespecting anyone, but I am not, nor want to be considered a gang member."

In fact, he said, he is not even sure that gangs really exist in Bermuda.

"The idea of gangs is something that comes from America. Guys here are more or less into representing their turf - where they sit off and sell their drugs," Jamel said.

But he admitted he would fight for another Frontline member in certain circumstances.

"That person would have to be in the right though, because I won't defend someone who I believe wronged somebody else."

And he observed more young males are being lured into the so-called gang life because they see their friends' pockets overflowing with money and wearing a lot of flashy clothes and jewellery. That irks Jamel.

"A lot of these guys don't even have to be on the streets, selling drugs and acting up. They are only doing it because that's what they see their friends doing."

While Jamel said he did not fear people from other areas on the Island, he said he still kept a third eye open: "Some guys just hate you because of where you're from."

As he said he was tired of the street life, Jamel said it was highly unlikely he would be able to leave it any time soon. In a few weeks, he will be homeless again. He will have no choice, he said, but to resume selling drugs.

"Being on the street has taught me never to judge others. I can't stand to see the youth on the streets like they are. It hurts because they don't even have to be out here."