Storm Watch: BVHS ensuring homeless are storm ready

By Anesta Henry

The Barbados Vagrants and Homeless Society (BVHS) is working with authorities to put measures in place to provide shelter for the homeless during the passage of Tropical Storm Dorian.

President of BVHS Kemar Saffrey assured Barbados TODAY that following yesterday’s announcement that the island would be shut down until the storm passes, he has been engaging relevant departments “to ensure that these men and women are some place safe”.

“We are on the road right now trying to get everybody mobilised to their locations. We have shelters that we are working with the shelter wardens to get our people there. There are two shelters in and around Bridgetown where they can go.

“So we are making sure our clients know where we will be. Our staff will also be at the shelters with the wardens during this time. But we want the homeless to know that they can utilize all shelters in and around Bridgetown. I want to credit Minister Santia Bradshaw for making it possible for our homeless to be specially accommodated,” Saffrey said during a telephone interview minutes ago.

He noted that the organisation has also been handing out care packages to homeless individuals to assist them during this period.

“The packages have in water, food items, dry goods and other things. It is like an army pack. There is a package that has in ten different things most of which they can use without water. There is enough stuff to last them between today and tomorrow, but we still have enough supplies at the shelters in case they need more. So we are making sure our clients will be well taken care of and that they are comfortable at this time,” he said.

The BVHS president said that once the all clear has been issued, a team would be back on the road to follow-up. anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb