The Salvation Army in Bermuda is conducting a survey in an effort to determine the numbers of persons who are homeless. Homelessness is defined as those who have no fixed address and by definition have not chosen this life style; as opposed to those who have become homeless as a result of substance abuse or by conditions they might have avoided.

During the Christmas season, 1995, a young, undernourished woman was discovered on Front Street by a Salvation Army worker. He asked where she lived and she took him to the old Bermudiana Hotel. He found many families living at this derelict site. The following Monday he went to the hotel with a big pot of soup and sandwiches to feed the people. Thus began the Soup Run in the city of Hamilton.

The Soup Run today is supported by over 40 volunteers from many churches across the Island. The Salvation Army Somerset Community Church in the West end runs a soup ministry and The Salvation Army St. George’s Community Church in the East end, feeds people in this area breakfast and lunch two days a week.

There are many stories associated with our soup ministry. Two years ago our soup truck found a homeless man who would not speak to anyone. He was offered his first cup of soup. This past Christmas we sat on the bench that he normally occupies and talked about his family. Now we have conversation with him regularly.

There is a street woman with an alcohol addiction who was housed in our shelter, but her addiction took control of her. We see her often back on the streets. A small person in stature, she embraces us with tears in her eyes. She wants to be free from alcohol. We continue to pray for her.

I have met families who have no choice but to live in abandoned buildings. A father and two daughters, the older daughter bringing up the younger, because the mother would have nothing to do with them, live together under these conditions.

Yes, Bermuda is a very affluent society; but there is a growing population of persons choosing to live on the street and because of this growing population there is a need for other street ministries. Ministries that are intentional in meeting needs and listening to the stories of these people offer them hope and an opportunity to consider other options that would allow them to ‘fit’ back into society.

Article by Lionel Can