A strategy that comprises evidence-based solutions and global best practices to end homelessness in Bermuda was tabled in the House of Assembly today.

Tinée Furbert, the Minister of Youth, Social Development and Seniors, said the Plan to End Homelessness was compiled over the past two-and-a-half years with insight from 400 Bermudians affected by housing insecurity.

It will be evaluated during its implementation and taken to the Government for consideration, she added.

The framework — which was co-sponsored by the charity Home — includes data, priorities and an National Homelessness Action Plan to end the social issue.

It found: “Homelessness is not inevitable. It can be ended”.

The plan’s vision is a permanent end to homelessness.

Ms Furbert told MPs: “This means that everyone has a safe, stable and sustainable place to live and that, wherever possible, new cases of homelessness are prevented.”

She said the document represented “a significant milestone” in the Government’s commitment to addressing homelessness on the island in a co-ordinated, unified, evidence-based and humane manner.

The House heard: “Recognising that no model will eliminate the risk of homelessness, should homelessness occur, systems are in place to ensure that it is rare, brief and non recurrent.”

She added that solving homelessness was not only a housing issue but also about helping people reconnect because some people saw it as a form of escape or freedom or were dealing with complex personal circumstances.

MPs heard that the plan was compiled with hundreds of hours of collaborative input from community experts and partners.

It includes evidence-based research into solutions from more than 40 countries and three rounds of extensive community consultations, as well as the work of a multi-sector steering committee.

Structured engagement programmes included participation from the public, such as town hall meetings and the Government’s Bermuda Citizens Forum.

A Homelessness Advisory Panel — made up of representatives from the public, private and non-profit sectors — was set up with a mandate to strengthen and refine that work.

Ms Furbert said the plan was framed around seven core areas of action, including the rapid reduction of rough sleeping, improved data and monitoring, expanded access to affordable housing, co-ordinated service delivery, public policy reform and public awareness.

“These priorities reflect a future where homelessness is rare, brief, and non-recurring,” she added.

The plan includes “point in time” data from December 31 last year, which was compiled using administrative information gathered through Home.

There were then 1,331 people who were affected by homelessness in Bermuda, an increase from 1,101 recorded at the end of 2024 and 811 at the end of 2023.

The latest statistics showed that 170 people in Bermuda were living rough, 99 were staying in a night shelter, while 217 were in accommodation for the homeless and 33 were in a women’s shelter.

The figures also recorded 24 people in accommodation for immigrants and 113 who were due to be released from institutions with no housing in place.

A further 188 people were living in insecure accommodation, 130 were under threat of eviction and 15 were under threat of violence.

The data also showed that 89 people were living in temporary or non-conventional structures.

Ms Furbert said: “This data relates to specific individuals and is not statistically extrapolated and the plan notes it is likely to understate overall prevalence.”

Ms Furbert said that the 2025-28 National Homelessness Action Plan “translates vision into action”.

She added: “It will establish the Government’s clear priorities and provide a structured, phased framework to guide implementation, while optimising the use of existing programmes and resources.

“The action plan is underpinned by prevention-first, trauma-informed, person-centred and rights-based principles.

“It emphasises collaboration across ministries and agencies, meaningful inclusion of persons with lived experience and the use of reliable data to guide decision-making and measure progress.”

Read the original article at The Royal Gazette