Instead of the traditional office gift exchange, employees of Catalina Re donated funds to a worthy cause for Christmas.

In fact, the reinsurer met the staff contribution with matching funds, allowing Catalina’s environmental, social and corporate governance committee to purchase much needed items that were on the Transformational Living Centre’s wish list.

The donation was welcomed by an organisation at the forefront of needed solutions for those in Bermuda who suffer homelessness. The centre concedes they are a first step in addressing this growing but largely hidden problem in Bermuda and how it is impacting families.

The wish list that Catalina Re consulted is published on the Transformational Living Centre’s website.

The TLC is a purpose-built housing facility that seeks to address the growing problem of homelessness among families with children in Bermuda. It also makes provision to accommodate secure emergency housing needs.

Tina Rego, group treasury manager and ESG chair at Catalina Re, said: “The Transformational Living Centre supports women and their families. Our staff and ESG Committee felt, particularly at Christmas time, we should assist in whatever way we could to provide the items they need.”

The reinsurer’s human resources business partner and deputy ESG chair, Sakina Darrell, said: “Catalina’s ESG approach has a clear focus on positively impacting our local communities through charitable donations.”

Marion Dyer, executive director of the Transformational Living Centre, said: “The families at the TLC are truly grateful for the timely donations of the gift cards, microwave and outdoor toys for our little ones.

“The generosity of the Catalina Re staff has been a tremendous blessing to our programme. We thank you for supporting the TLC.”

A report from a transitional housing think-tank five years ago hosted by the Women’s Resource Centre and Habitat for Humanity pointed out glaring gaps in public services designed to provide support.

It highlights how demand for transitional housing for mothers and children exceeds supply. Homeless families are a vulnerable, significant and largely hidden population.

Households in precarious situations may include women escaping abusive situations and families evicted who are unable to keep up rent payments.

At the time, the report lamented that there was no co-ordinated plan to address this population. It said that homeless families struggled with trauma, loss and rejection.

It further said: “Some are struggling with mental-health issues and some are suffering with multigenerational trauma. Families do not leave existing transitional housing because there aren’t any affordable options. This creates a growing need for more transitional housing.”