City Hall’s new task force on homelessness has met with Community Minister Wayne Scott to discuss plans for a “one stop shop” for those living rough on the Island.

Mr Scott was invited to join in a meeting with members last Wednesday, in what committee head Pastor Kevin Santucci said was a “sort of informal, sort of formal” capacity.

The volunteer Chaplain of the City of Hamilton told The Royal Gazette that the Minister shared the sentiments of the committee, which believes that Bermuda’s homeless population needs a new facility to get them off the streets.

Mr Santucci said: “We have a number of [homeless] persons in our city and it has escalated: urinating, defecating and other things.

“They are doing this in the city on people’s premises. Unless people get up early to clean their doorways, it’s really terrible. It has got worse and that’s something that has been ongoing.”

The committee hopes Government and private businesses will join a public-private partnership to pay for a new shelter in the capital, which would provide a hygienic place to sleep and eat for the homeless, along with a host of other services aimed at getting them back on their feet.

Mr Santucci said the next meeting of the committee would take place on May 14, when more detailed plans would be discussed.

A Ministry of Community, Culture and Sports spokeswoman confirmed that Mr Scott “met informally” with the committee last week. She added: “Minister Scott has no further comment regarding the meeting.”