Another push on to raise funds for shelter

Recommitting to its bid to raise $1 million, the Barbados Alliance to End Homelessness (BAEH) launched the iPLEDGE II campaign this morning, still $700 000 off the mark.

The money is intended to go towards the purchase of the Spry Street, Bridgetown building which houses the charity’s offices and a 90-bed shelter for persons who have fallen on difficult times.

Speaking to members of the media at the headquarters, President Kemar Saffrey said the second iteration of the campaign is necessary as COVID-19 had put a significant damper on the first effort to capture the funds required. The first attempt raised  $300 000.

“In the latter part of 2021, we would have started to raise funds for the building and it was paused because the COVID situation made it hard for us to continue, seeing that the demand for our organisation was heavy due to the number of persons who were faced with homelessness during that period,” he said.

In its previous lease agreement with the bank, the BAEH had until 2022 to purchase the building.

Saying the Alliance remains in good standing on its lease, as some additional leeway was granted given the circumstances, Saffrey stressed the importance of keeping the building due to the growing numbers of homeless persons in The City who require help and the fact that at any point anyone could find themselves in a similar situation.

Like the first campaign, persons are being asked to pledge $500, while corporations are asked for $2,000 donations through Surepay and online transfers, through the fund’s accounts at CIBC FirstCaribbean, Scotia Bank and Republic Bank and by paying directly at the BAEH’s city office.

Saffrey stated that over the coming weeks, the alliance will be rolling out a heavy media campaign to rekindle the interests of citizens and to encourage them to donate generously to the cause.

“We’re going to be doing a number of town hall meetings on homelessness. We’re going to also be hitting the schools and the different businesses to educate them about homelessness because we just don’t want it to be a ‘buy-a-building’ campaign. We also want to be able to educate Barbados, about the indepth work of the organisation and to get them involved and to understand the 30 services that we offer to the homeless community. That is key for Barbados to know, so that when you give your funds, you know where it goes,” he added. (JB)