Plans to move emergency housing to Bishop Spencer (Update)

The Salvation Army’s emergency housing complex could be moved to a new premises in Pembroke.

The current 54-bed, co-ed shelter on Marsh Lane in Pembroke has fallen into disrepair over the years.

Now plans are afoot to shift the complex to a former Ministry of Education building called the Bishop Spencer facility on Glebe Road in Pembroke.

The new proposals were announced today by Home Affairs Minister, Michael Fahy, at a press conference.

He admitted the move had been ‘a long time coming, but said it was crucial to ensure the wellbeing of the most vulnerable in society.

Mr Fahy added: “The Ministry of Home Affairs, in consultation with the Ministry of Public Works, have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Salvation Army in respect of the use of the Bishop Spencer facility for the purpose of relocating their Emergency Housing Complex programme.

“This six month MOU will enable the Salvation Army to present plans to the Government in respect of the use of the facility for Emergency Housing and various programmes, with the aim that a long term lease will be entered into between the Bermuda Government and the Salvation Army for the use of the facility.”

Earlier this year representatives from the Salvation Army as well as the Ministry of Home Affairs and Works and Engineering toured several potential new locations including the old Pembroke Rest Home and the old Prison HQ.

All parties agreed that the Bishop Spencer facility was the best option.

Mr Fahy said that the old complex had ‘long exceeded its useful life’.

He added: “This aged facility develops issues regularly which have recently included the erosion of earth in the dining area as well as the deterioration of wall boards in some of the housing units – which may have to close immediately unless much needed repairs are undertaken.

“This is simply not a safe situation.”

It was recognized that to do this we must replace the Salvation Army’s current Emergency Housing Complex (EHC) location on Marsh Lane, Pembroke – a premises which is unquestionably inadequate in its current form and in a sad state of disrepair.

The complex has long exceeded its useful life since the original intent was to have this facility operate for only ten years – not the 30-plus years it has served so far. This aged facility develops issues regularly which have recently included the erosion of earth in the dining area as well as the deterioration of wall boards in some of the housing units – which may have to close immediately unless much needed repairs are undertaken. This is simply not a safe situation.

Therefore I am pleased to stand before you today to announce that the Ministry of Home Affairs, in consultation with the Ministry of Public Works, have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Salvation Army in respect of the use of the Bishop Spencer facility (located at Glebe Road, Pembroke) for the purpose of relocating their Emergency Housing Complex programme.  This six month MOU will enable the Salvation Army to present plans to the Government in respect of the use of the facility for Emergency Housing and various programs, with the aim that a long term lease will be entered into between the Bermuda Government and the Salvation Army for the use of the facility.

The current co-ed facility operates as a 54-bed facility and offers approximately 20,000 nightly bed spaces annually for the homeless and marginalized of Bermuda.

In February of this year both myself and the Minister of Public Works (along with our respective technical officers) accompanied Major Shawn Critch of the Salvation Army and his Administrator on a tour of several potential new locations, including the old Pembroke Rest Home and the old Prison HQ 

Subsequent to this tour, Major Critch confirmed that it was the position of the Salvation Army Board that the preferred location would be the Bishop Spencer facility.  I agreed with this.

The Salvation Army has a well-deserved reputation for successfully operating residential and non-residential programmes in Bermuda having operated various support services for over 35 years as. The Salvation Army have been excellent social partners and remain committed to assisting the Government of Bermuda with its ongoing challenges of meeting the needs of the homeless and those less fortunate than others. 

For years the Salvation Army has run the current  Government-owned Emergency Housing complex and run it well. However, this announcement today is crucial if we are to ensure the wellbeing of our most vulnerable.

On a personal note, and by way of explanation as to why the Ministry of Home Affairs has spearheaded this initiative and asked for assistance from the Ministry of Public Works, is that this is something which I have been passionate about for many, many years.

In fact, I wrote about this very issue in the Bermuda Sun in June 2008 when I suggested that the Government at the time fulfill the vision of, and I quote from that article, "building a humane society by adequately funding the Emergency Housing Complex and assisting those in real need or, indeed, building a purpose-built facility.”

This move has been a long time coming.  Today’s announcement is the first step in a road to providing dignified Emergency Housing for the most vulnerable in our community and in time seeing the back of an aged and decrepit facility that has long passed its useful life.

As Gandhi said, “The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.”

Thank You.