Good morning,

Today, we join the global community in recognizing World Homeless Day—first marked on 10.10.10 (October 10th, 2010). This day serves as a powerful reminder of our shared responsibility to ensure that every person has the dignity of a safe, stable, and secure place to call home.

Here in Bermuda, we know that the challenges of homelessness are real. They touch the lives of men and women, young people and seniors, families and individuals alike. Homelessness can stem from job losses, illness, domestic violence, financial hardship, or sudden crises that upend lives. The Government recognizes that lasting solutions require more than just housing—they demand collaboration, compassion, and a steadfast commitment to sustainable, long-term change.

Within a strong collaborative framework—one that brings together the Government, community service providers, and the wider community—we have identified key action areas that shape Bermuda’s Plan to End Homelessness. These recommendations form the foundation of our collective response and guide our next steps forward.

They are as follows:
1. A rapid end to rough sleeping and other forms of high-risk homelessness
2. A systematic approach to homelessness data and intervention monitoring
3. Sufficient accessible social and affordable housing and welfare entitlements
4. Citizen-centric coordinated service delivery
5. Public policy reform and statutory rights and protection changes
6. Public perception and awareness
7. Other holistic and system-wide reforms

Together, these action items provide a clear and united roadmap—one built on partnership, and compassion, and the shared belief that every person deserves a place to call home.

In March 2025, the Ministry partnered with the charitable organisation HOME to support the Rental Support Services Pilot Programme. Backed by a Government grant of $148,000, this initiative fills an urgent gap by providing immediate rental support—covering the first month’s rent or the deposit needed to secure accommodation. This Government grant established what is known as the Hardship Fund, which is being utilized to expand access to essential social services.

A multidisciplinary committee—comprising representatives from several non-profit agencies—reviews and determines eligibility for assistance. As of June 2025, twenty-nine individuals have been referred for support. Of these:

• 52 percent required rental assistance,
• 14 percent for medical needs,
• 17 percent for groceries, and
• 13 percent for utilities.

Thus far, the programme has financed $32,527 to support individuals and families in crisis. Importantly, all payments are made directly to landlords or vendors on behalf of applicants to ensure accountability and transparency.

We also recognise the mounting pressures that contribute to homelessness. According to data from the Judicial Department, between January 2022 and December 2024, there were 117 unique eviction cases, with rental arrears cited as the primary cause in 71 of those cases.

To strengthen our data-driven response, the Ministry has advanced the establishment of the In-Form Case Management System to track homelessness across Bermuda. A total of 25 user licenses, at a cost of $7,944.28, have been purchased for use by Government ministries, departments, and key third-sector partners. Staff from the Department of Financial Assistance, the Department of Child and Family Services, the Salvation Army, the Centre Against Abuse, and Transitional Community Services have completed training and are now ready to begin entering data—building Bermuda’s first reliable, shared database of individuals experiencing homelessness.

Further, the Ministry has undertaken a housing initiative (Astor House) specifically designed to assist inmates transitioning from the Department of Corrections or those on community supervisory orders who have complex needs. To this end, a $317,275 grant was awarded to HOME to support the renovation of Astor House, a nine-bed boarding facility that will provide accommodation and intensive support services for at least six months. The anticipated launch is scheduled for November 2025.

In parallel, the Ministry initiated a Property Survey Project focusing on derelict residential and commercial properties registered with the Department of Land Valuation. The goal is to create a comprehensive database of these properties and identify their legal owners. Students, in collaboration with the Department of Planning and HOME, conducted field surveys using a condition rating system to assess the external state of each property. This initiative—undertaken jointly by the Ministry of Youth, Social Development and Seniors, the Ministry of Housing and Municipalities, and the Department of Planning—will provide valuable data to inform Government’s policy decisions aimed at addressing Bermuda’s social housing challenges.

Behind every statistic is a story.... Every statistic reflects a real person, a person who needed just one month’s rent to regain stability; a mother working diligently to secure a brighter future for her children; an individual leaving incarceration...re-entering society with no home to return to... but now provided with opportunities for rehabilitation through access to shelter and support services.

World Homeless Day reminds us that homelessness is not inevitable—it is preventable. And together, we can end it.
Today, I call on every member of our community—businesses, schools, service clubs, faith groups, and individuals—to be part of the solution. Whether through volunteering, advocacy, employment opportunities, or simply extending compassion, we all have a role to play.

Let us use this day to reaffirm our collective commitment: that in Bermuda, it is our hope that no one will be left without a safe, stable, and dignified place to call home.

Thank you.