Video: Government & Salvation Army Enter MOU
The Government has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Salvation Army for them to relocate the Emergency Housing Complex to the Bishop Spencer facility on Glebe Road, Minister of Home Affairs Michael Fahy announced today [June 5].
The 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.
Minister Fahy said, “As you may recall, the OBA government – in its election platform – committed to working with agencies such as the Salvation Army to provide good quality transitional housing and support programmes for the most vulnerable in our society.
“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.
Minister of Public Works Patricia Gordon-Pamplin, Salvation Army Major Shawn Critch and Minister Fahy:
“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,” continued Minister Fahy.
“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.
The Minister added, “As Gandhi said, “The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.”
So sad as this now means that these Salvation Army residents will no longer be able to vote in Corporation of Hamilton elections…
Come now, “couldn’t you see the trees for the forest”?
Maybe that’s why the Mayor got “his wishes” to bring the conference to Hamilton in exchange…
Excellent commitment by the Government to a group that has done so much for those in need.
Maybe with a better facility we may finally get the homeless off the City streets.
Right, lets hope they dont do an about face at the last minute, like they have become famous for !!!!
I wonder who gave mike fahy directions to pond hill, and did he have a police ascort ? Lol
Robert, is this development a good thing or a bad thing ?
Why do you feel the need to have a go at Fahy ?
This is great news. With no exaggeration, The Salvation Army does a tremendous amount for Bermuda by helping to take care of some of the most vulnerable people from ALL backgrounds and quietly save a lot of lives. They deserve all the support they can get – Bermuda is lucky to have them
Let me correct you,”paperonion”…”Bermuda / Bermudians are blessed!”
At least Mr. Fahy is fulfilling his pledge from 2008 to help the less fortunate. What did the PLP do in their time? Nothing. However they did find $25m to build a $15m car testing facility next door to the dilapidated shelter, that is operated by friends and family, to test emissions that have no legal requirement or use.
Well done and a win/win for all concerned. Now to make us even happier, can you turn the existing lot into a cark park so us House of India fans have a place to park??????
So the homeowners in the area who can’t sell because of previous violent acts in that area surely wont be able to sell now, not with an emergency housing complex around! Not impressed at all. I’m sure the OBA Mp’s wouldn’t welcome a complex like this moving to their neighborhood.