24 hour homeless shelter officially opens

Homeless people in Barbados now have access to a 24 hour shelter.

President of the Barbados Alliance to End Homelessness Kemar Saffrey has confirmed that people will now be able to stay in the shelter during the daytime.

Previously, people were housed at the facility from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.

According to Mr. Saffrey, the 24 hour shelter was officially opened on November 1, a month later than planned to allow for the hiring of additional staff and construction to be done to some parts of the building.

He explains people who come to the shelter will be assessed to determine if they qualify.

However, given its 90 bed capacity, Mr. Saffrey notes the focus will be on rehabilitating and reintegrating people back into society within three to six months.

The expansion to the 24 hour shelter is being funded by the Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs.

There are currently around 16 people utilising the 24 hour facility.

With 7 clients having completed their rehabilitation and seeking housing, Mr. Saffrey is appealing to landlords to partner with the association.

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