HOME, the registered charity with the purpose of ending homelessness, will co-host the first Ending Homelessness Together conference on October 11, focusing on some of the key issues surrounding efforts to tackle one of Bermuda’s greatest social challenges.
Subject–matter experts from relevant fields will speak at the event, which will take place at the Bermuda Industrial Union, in Union Square, Hamilton, starting at 10am. The conference will follow World Homeless Day, October 10, observed to raise awareness of the millions of people who have no place to call home. HOME identified 811 people experiencing homelessness in Bermuda as of the end of 2023, more than 1 per cent of the island’s population.
The Hon. Tinee Furbert, JP, MP, Minister of Youth, Social Development and Seniors, will deliver the welcome remarks at next week’s conference, after which Justice Juan Wolffe, Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court of Bermuda, will speak about the Duty of Care. A central element of the Plan to End Homelessness, co-produced by HOME and the Ministry of Youth, Social Development and Seniors, is the duty of care across service providers to work together in the interests of an individual for as long as needed.
Leslie Grant, executive director of FOCUS, an addiction counselor and clinical supervisor at FOCUS, will give a presentation on the importance of providing supportive housing for persons living with addiction. Dr. Carolyn Armstrong, executive director and founder of STAR (Supportive Therapy for persons with AIDS and their Relatives) will then speak about housing people living with AIDS/HIV.
The afternoon session will start with a workshop on hoarding, proven by research to have strong links with homelessness. Dr. Kasia Murach, senior clinical psychologist, and Sydney Rego, clinical psychology assistant, both of Solstice, the Hamilton-based holistic wellness centre, will present “Why the Marie Kondo Method May Not Work: Sorting and Discarding Techniques for Professionals Working with Hoarders”. This introduction to hoarding will include diagnosing hoarding disorder, hoarding-related risks, hoarder profiles, how to assess hoarding, what causes people to hoard, treatment of hoarding, barriers to treatment, how to maintain a decluttered space, and measuring outcomes.
A panel discussion on ending homelessness will follow, featuring Aaron Crichlow, lawyer, mediator and founder of Bermuda is Love; Omar Dill, Case Manager, HOME; Christopher Bean, an Operations Manager ofDignity House; Gavin Smith, a leadership coach with Transitional Community Services, a registered charity that provides support for young adult men; and Shomari Talbot-Woolridge, Chair of Progressive Minds, youth wing of the Progressive Labour Party.
Denise Carey, HOME’s CEO and executive director, will recognise a group of “Emerging Leaders” before delivering closing remarks.
“Homelessness is a broad-ranging issue that encompasses many of Bermuda’s greatest social challenges,” Ms Carey said. “Ending Homelessness Together, the first conference of its kind in Bermuda, will promote a better understanding of some of those issues and bring together policymakers, services providers and members of the public with a common interest in ensuring everyone in Bermuda has a place to call home.
“We are grateful to the Bermuda Industrial Union for providing the venue, and to our specialist presenters and panellists from many different fields, whose willingness to participate exemplifies the cross-community support needed to address and prevent homelessness.”
Through its Housing-First programme at Black Circle, HOME has provided shelter and support to 11 cohorts of eight homeless individuals, helping them acquire the tools needed to work towards sustainable independent living, and will welcome the 12th cohort later this month.
To register for the Ending Homelessness Together conference, email:info@home.bm.
To learn more about HOME, or to donate, visit the website, www.home.bm
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