Giving the homeless shelter from the storm

With little or no access to food or shelter, the risk to life and limb is severe.

Action however is under way to protect those living rough.

The Salvation Army, in partnership with the Department of Child and Family Services, is working to ensure homeless citizens are taken to immediate shelter if Igor hits us hard.

Major Shawn Critch, Salvation Army Divisional Commander, said in the event of Government opening its CedarBridge Academy emergency shelter, staff and volunteers will be ready.

“If the EMO (the Emergency Measures Organization) decides to open CedarBridge we will close our Marsh Lane shelter and transport residents there,” he said.

Up to 86 people seek shelter at the Government-owned Marsh Lane facility, but Maj. Critch said some of the buildings would be unsafe in a major storm.

“Marsh Lane is an ageing facility and because of the condition of some of the buildings, Government has said if the storm intensifies, they do not want people there.

“CedarBridge is more structurally sound. It will offer a safer, more secure facility.”

 Until the hurricane hits, Maj. Critch said the Salvation Army will also continue its regular soup run and feeding programme in Hamilton.

Up to 60 of the estimated 300 homeless in Bermuda regularly seek sustenance from the food service.

“We will have a presence on the streets for as long as it is safe for us to do so,” said Maj. Critch.

“And we will encourage those individuals who do not normally seek shelter at Marsh Lane to jump into one of our vehicles so we can get them to CedarBridge Academy.”

The Divisional Commander said he was aware some homeless people have mental health issues, but added: “We are sensitive to this.”

As a result of the food programme, many are “familiar faces”.

“We have been able to build relationships with a lot of these individuals,” said Maj. Critch.

“They know us and there is a level of trust. We hope they will understand we are there to help them.

“I am very much concerned about the people on our streets as we go into the weekend, but we will be doing as much as we can to ensure their safety.

“These are the vulnerable people of our community. We hope that with encouragement, hopefully they will find themselves in a safe environment as Igor passes.”

There will be concern also about the plight of our elderly.

In the east end, staff at Government’s residential care home for seniors, the Sylvia Richardson Care Facility, are finalizing plans for the onset of Igor.

Administrator Angela Brangman said: “We are in full preparation mode.

“There have been so many warnings about hurricanes in the past month it wasn’t too difficult to get ready for this one.

“Only recently we double-checked everything and so now we’re just going through final checks.

“We are bringing in items outside and are making sure we are well stocked with drinking water and supplies. Tomorrow we will make contingency plans to make sure we have enough staff at the weekend, because we have to factor in the Causeway.

“We will monitor the storm and if the Causeway is going to close it will mean staff in the west will have to come in earlier.”

Ms Brangman added: “We feel confident everyone will be safe and sound.”