BAEH president chides ‘reckless’ feeding of homeless during hurricane

A charity worker’s trip to The City to feed the homeless during Hurricane Elsa has been slammed by advocate for the homeless Kemar Saffrey as a reckless act that put the homeless at risk.

Saffrey, head of the Barbados Alliance to End Homelessness (BAEH), said he was disturbed by reports about the unnamed charity worker braving the stormy weather to feed the homeless last Friday although the all-clear had not yet been given. He said the individual’s actions could only be described as reckless and risky behaviour that endangered the lives of The City’s homeless.

On Friday, during its coverage of Hurricane Elsa, Barbados TODAY caught up with Sharon Bellamy who ventured into the stormy weather to feed the homeless in The City. But when a reporter later contacted Bellamy regarding Saffrey’s concerns, she said she preferred not to make a comment.

He said he was also aggrieved that the charity worker encouraged the homeless who were on the streets during the hurricane to leave wherever they were at the time and make their way to the feeding point.

Saffrey told Barbados TODAY that some homeless people who said they were approached by the charity worker complained to BAEH that they were dissatisfied about having to make their way to an open area where they were exposed to the elements.

He said: “We find that the act is reckless to all because you are putting the clients at risk by feeding them in an open area in an active hurricane. And while we understand that the act that the people may think they are doing is kind, and we do appreciate you helping these persons, but not at the risk of their lives.

“Persons said that they were being recorded by another individual and we found that reckless and not correct in the sense of putting the clients at risk. And we don’t want to condone that type of behaviour where you are asking people to leave a particular area, whether they are at a shelter or hiding in a particular area for safety purposes, and tell them to go to an opened area where they could have been struck by debris or hit by anything.”

Saffrey said it would have been sensible for the good samaritan to have waited for the authorities to issue an all-clear before proceeding to go into the elements to feed the homeless.

The all-clear was issued around 4.30 p.m. Friday after the early morning onslaught by the category one hurricane whose peak winds were recorded at 82 miles per hour by 8.a.m.

Saffrey argued that the charity worker braving the weather to feed the homeless was unnecessary because the BAEH’s shelter was opened and those who sought refuge there were fed. Meals were also provided for people who went to Government-operated shelters at different locations across the island, he noted.

“The homeless had the option to be at the homeless shelter here or any of the category one shelters.” said the BAEH president. “So, we are asking people to think before they act. This organisation serves under the Government as a shelter for the homeless, and I myself am a District Emergency Organization chairperson so I know the consequences of putting the clients’ lives at risk by telling them to leave a safe area, and videotaping them while giving them food.

“It was foolhardy, it was reckless, it was dangerous and it should not be condoned anytime going forward. Until the all-clear is given, persons should hold back and allow the authorities to take action. We ask that anyone who is considering doing this in the future desist from doing that and follow the protocol which is for the safety of the homeless and the safety of the individual who was reported doing it.”

Saffrey reported that 40 people went to BEAH’s Spry Street shelter during the passage of the hurricane. He said while the shelter did not suffer any damages; branches that fell off from trees on the neighbouring Central Bank’s property made the road impassable.

He said: “Once the all-clear was given, the homeless along with myself and some of the other staff went and cleaned up the road to make sure it was passable. But what I can say to you is just like a lot of Bajans, some of the homeless were complacent and they did not see it as a hurricane but as a storm and they did not care to come off the streets. Some people thought they could rally through it, but in talking to them they understand now the seriousness of this thing and next time they are willing to come to the shelter.”

(anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb)