By Michron Robinson
A number of Barbadians who were once faced with homelessness are well on their way to contributing to society and providing for their families thanks to the work of the Barbados Alliance to End Homelessness (BAEH).
During the At the Crossroads graduation ceremony held at the Radisson Hotel in Aquatic Gap, St Michael seven graduates walked the stage having overcome challenges with shelter.
One of the graduates Delano Roach told Barbados TODAY that he was overjoyed about his progress having endured life on the streets after his challenges with drug addiction and severe depression.
“I feel good that I’ve come this far and I feel good about it because I never thought that I would achieve an award. It was a fight and a task but I was fighting it real hard. I believed that I could do better for my life,” he said confidently on the sidelines of the awards ceremony.
The employee with Harris Paints has advice for people who are currently homeless.
“I took drugs because I was suffering from depression. When I was depressed I would turn to drugs for comfort but I would tell people who hit the streets to just try to stay away from drugs and stay a good course and to live one day at a time without drugs because drugs were really my downfall. I still have a challenge but I plan to fight it,” he advised.
Meanwhile, BAEH employee Fabian Bourne shared his experience living on the streets of Barbados before the age of 13.
Permanent Secretary in the Minsitry of People Empowerment and Elderly Affairs Jehu Wiltshire.
“This was a good experience after being from block to block and leaving home at the age of 12 when my mother was in the mental hospital. I ended up in jail on a serious offence. At the end of my time I was looking for a programme to go to because I had nowhere to go and they told me about the Barbados Alliance to End Homelessness,” he said.
He enrolled in the programme and he recalled that BAEH head Kemar Saffrey promised him a job. He started as a warden and then was promoted to supervisor of the wardens division at the BAEH.
He called on Barbadians to give deviant youth a chance as he said many factors contribute to their institutionalisation:
“Most of the time people just need someone to depend on, someone that would be their friend. Society does not feel for you especially if you have just come out of prison. Society does not give you a chance once you have a conviction. If you are young you should get a second chance. Everybody makes mistakes.”
During his address, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs Jehu Wiltshire congratulated the BAEH for its consistent efforts to reintegrate the homeless into society.
“I want to emphasise that they not only provided shelter but went beyond the call of duty by providing rehabilitative and reintegrative services so that graduates could be reintegrated,” he said.
Wiltshire noted that the ministry, in addition to the provision of social services, is also seeking to create a society that is more compassionate.
Also in attendance at the evening’s proceedings were members of staff and members of the BAEH Board of Directors including Senator Dr. Crystal Haynes, CEO of Supreme Counselling Shawn Clarke and Pastor Jamal Medas of Come as You Are Ministries. (MR)
