Mr. Speaker,

It is my privilege and responsibility to provide the people of Bermuda with an update on the progress of the Plan to End Homelessness and to table for consideration of this Honourable House the Plan to End Homelessness in Bermuda – Ending Homelessness Together which includes homelessness data, status, prioritization and delivery of the plan, and the National Homelessness Action Plan.

Mr. Speaker,

This document represents a significant milestone in the Government’s ongoing commitment to addressing homelessness in Bermuda in a coordinated, unified, evidence-based, and humane manner.
The Vision, Mr. Speaker is;

“That Homelessness is ended. This means that everyone has a safe, stable and sustainable place to live and that wherever possible, new cases of homelessness are prevented”.

Recognizing that no model will eliminate the risk of homelessness, should homelessness occur, systems are in place to ensure that it is rare, brief and non-recurrent. Please be aware that homelessness is not only a housing plan, but also a step toward reconnection as homelessness for some is seen as a form of escape, freedom or can be due to complex personal circumstances.

Mr. Speaker,

This Plan has taken approximately 2 ½ years to develop due to the commitment to gain data and insight from over 400 Bermudians experiencing homelessness, hundreds of hours of collaborative input from community experts and partners (both government and non-government), evidence-based research into solutions from over forty countries around the world as well as those domestically and three rounds of extensive community consultations and the hard work of a Multi-Sector Steering Committee. The public was consulted through structured engagement initiatives, including town hall meetings and the Government’s Bermuda Citizens Forum.

Subsequently, a Homelessness Advisory Panel was established, comprising representatives from the public, private, and non-profit sectors, with a mandate to strengthen and refine that work.

The resulting Plan to End Homelessness is framed around seven core areas of action, including the rapid reduction of rough sleeping, improved data and monitoring, expanded access to affordable housing, coordinated service delivery, public policy reform, and public awareness. These priorities reflect a future where homelessness is rare, brief, and non-recurring.

Mr. Speaker,

The Plan incorporates evidence-based solutions and international best practices, carefully adapted to Bermuda’s unique social and economic context.

Among its key features, the Plan to End Homelessness establishes a comprehensive definition of homelessness for Bermuda. It is grounded in the European Typology on Homelessness and Housing Exclusion (ETHOS), which recognizes that a “home” has physical, social and legal dimensions. This plan defines 13 operational categories that refine the circumstances faced by people experiencing homelessness.

In practical terms, Mr. Speaker, it ensures that we understand and always reference the states of homelessness as those who are roofless, houseless, are in insecure housing or inadequate housing.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to make is clear to this Honorable House, this Plan includes “point in time” data as at 31 December 2025 using administrative information gathered through HOME. That data recorded persons who throughout the year were roofless, including 170 people living rough and 99 staying in a night shelter; persons who were houseless, including 217 in accommodation for the homeless, 33 in a women’s shelter, 24 in accommodation for immigrants, and 113 who were due to be released from institutions with no housing in place; persons in insecure housing, including 188 living in insecure accommodation, 130 under threat of eviction, and 15 under threat of violence; and persons in inadequate housing, including 89 living in temporary or non-conventional structures. This data relates to specific individuals and is not statistically extrapolated, and the Plan notes it is likely to understate overall prevalence. By way of wider context, the National Homelessness Action Plan also references Census-based figures of 82 persons experiencing homelessness in 2010 and 138 in 2016.

Mr. Speaker,

The Plan adopts a prevention-focused approach, with early intervention and rapid rehousing as the default model, and it calls for systemic reforms across data collection, service delivery, housing supply, welfare entitlements, and statutory protections.
The Plan also includes the rapid reduction of rough sleeping, improvements to homelessness data systems, the expansion of affordable housing options, and enhanced public education and awareness.

Mr. Speaker,

Building on this strategic foundation, the Ministry of Youth, Social Development and Seniors have included a four-year National Homelessness Action Plan covering the period 2025 to 2028. This Action Plan translates vision into action. It will establish Government’s clear priorities and provide a structured, phased framework to guide implementation, while optimizing the use of existing programmes and resources.

The Action Plan is underpinned by prevention-first, trauma-informed, person-centred, and rights-based principles. It emphasizes collaboration across ministries and agencies, meaningful inclusion of persons with lived experience, and the use of reliable data to guide decision-making and measure progress.

Mr. Speaker,

Oversight of the Action Plan will rest with the Ministry of Youth, Social Development and Seniors, working in close partnership with the Ministry of Housing and Municipalities, other lead ministries, statutory bodies, non-government organizations, and private-sector partners.

Implementation will be supported by a centralized case-management and data-sharing framework, clearly defined roles and responsibilities, and annual reporting to Cabinet on progress, outcomes, and emerging risks.

Mr. Speaker,

The synergy between Bermuda’s Affordable Housing Strategy and the National Homeless Action Plan is the Affordable Housing Strategy focuses on system-level levers like supply, affordability, suitability, and governance, while the Homeless Action Plan focuses on crisis response, prevention, stabilization, and helping individuals move quickly from homelessness into housing. Together, they create a more cohesive pathway from insecurity to security by ensuring that suitable housing exists and that the support is in place to help people.

Mr. Speaker,

Key performance indicators will be aligned to rapid rehousing, homelessness prevention, housing supply, service integration, and policy reform. A funding framework, including budget estimates and cost-sharing arrangements, will be assessed during implementation of delivery and action plan and brought forward for Cabinet’s consideration as required.

Mr. Speaker,

At its core, this work is guided by a simple but powerful principle: that the Plan to End Homelessness is a whole system response and is multi-year in its nature. The plans provide a clear national roadmap to move us closer to that goal, consolidating existing efforts and aligning public policy in a coordinated and sustainable way.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I want to emphasize, once again, that the challenges before us are significant, but our resolve and collaboration remain unwavering.

Mr. Speaker, I extend my sincere thanks to everyone whose dedication and expertise helped bring the Plan to End Homelessness in Bermuda – Ending Homelessness Together, and the National Homelessness Action Plan to its final edit - especially the many Bermudians with lived experience who shared their courage, insight, and hope. I would also like to thank the Homelessness Advisory Panel, the Homelessness Steering Committee, Ms. Denise Carey, CEO/Executive Director of HOME, the many government, non-government, and community partners who contributed their time, frontline knowledge, and unwavering commitment to ending homelessness in Bermuda.

Accordingly, Mr. Speaker, I commend this document to this Honourable House and formally table the Plan to End Homelessness in Bermuda – Ending Homelessness Together which includes homelessness data, status, prioritization and delivery of the plan and the National Homelessness Action Plan for the information of Members and the people of Bermuda.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.