Homeless men, women and children who roam the streets of Bridgetown are one step closer to having a roof over their heads and a safe place to rest at night.
The Barbados Vagrants and Homeless Society (BVHS) was recently presented with the third tranche of a five-year commitment from CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank.
“The money will go towards the purchase of a building that we have earmarked which will form our headquarters and will be able to house men, women and children in different dormitory areas where they can sleep at night,” said Kemar Saffrey, head of the organisation.
He said it was a long process trying to acquire the property, completing the legal work that needed to be done as well as the physical work of retrofitting it to create dorms for men on one floor and those for women and children on another.
He said they also had to acquire specialised cots, mattresses and linens, which have been donated through membership in a worldwide organisation that assists the homeless, with which the Barbados Society is affiliated.
Saffrey said the overall goal is to raise $500 000 for the purchase of the building and the retrofitting for the BVHS. When completed, he said the building would also accommodate office
space and storerooms, as well as a communal dining room. It is expected to provide shelter for approximately 60 people.
He noted that the Society currently feeds about 100 people daily and was dealing with approximately seven new cases of homeless people a month.
CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank’s Managing Director for Barbados, Donna Wellington, commended the BVHS for its with the homeless, noting the bank was happy to assist. (PR)
