Hamilton
Bermuda
HOME, the registered charity working to end homelessness in Bermuda, has announced that Stacey-Lee Williams, Executive Director of Citizens Uprooting Racism Bermuda (CURB), has joined its Board of Directors.
Appointed as CURB’s first full-time Executive Director in March last year, Williams previously worked for 25 years at Somersfield Academy, most recently as the director of diversity, equity and inclusion & operations manager. She is a certified practitioner of restorative practices, with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology.
Arthur Wightman, Chair of HOME, said: “We are delighted that Stacey-Lee has agreed to join our Board. Her commitment to social justice and her experience in combatting racism will be invaluable to us. The vast majority of people experiencing homelessness who HOME has identified in Bermuda are Black male Bermudians. There is a clear link between the social injustice of homelessness and systemic racism. Stacey-Lee’s proactive efforts to eliminate racism with CURB align with our own ambition to end homelessness.”
Stacey-Lee Williams
Executive Director of Citizens Uprooting Racism Bermuda
Since its launch in September 2021, HOME has promoted system-wide collaboration and worked closely with the Bermuda government, non-governmental agencies, charities, philanthropies, and the religious and wider local community to track, reduce and end homelessness. Last year, HOME identified 650 people experiencing homelessness in Bermuda, found homes for 52 formerly homeless people, and prevented 70 new cases of homelessness. This summer, the charity won a “Best of Bermuda Award 2023” from The Bermudian magazine for Best Charity.
Williams has worked with many of HOME’s staff and volunteers, providing restorative practice training, primarily to help them deal with the difficult conversations they need to have with tenants.
“I’m proud to join the Board of HOME,” Williams said. “The amazing progress HOME has made in such a short time, bringing people and agencies together to build whole-system solutions to end homelessness, resonates with my passion for equity and fairness.
“It unnerves me to hear members of the public shouting at someone who may be suffering from the effects of past trauma or systemic discrimination. It’s only by the grace of God that we are not in a similar position. I always ask myself: How can I help? What can I do? Joining HOME’s Board allows me to do something.”
HOME is led by Denise Carey, CEO & Executive Director. At Black Circle on Union Street, Hamilton, HOME provides people experiencing homelessness with shelter and support to help them get back to sustainable, independent living through its Housing-First programme. Each tenant is assigned a case manager to help them acquire health services, open bank accounts, secure accommodation and gain employment opportunities.