Ministry to conduct census on homelessness

Government plans to conduct a comprehensive census to accurately determine the number of homeless individuals on the island. 

This initiative follows a preliminary count conducted last December in collaboration with the University of the West Indies and various agencies.

Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs Kirk Humphrey says the count, conducted on December 12, 2023, identified 225 homeless persons, with 139 living on the streets and 86 accommodated in shelters. 

“This is a point in time count . . . it is meant only to be just that, a point in time. What a point in time count is, is that you go out and you take a team of people at one time across the country. You try to get the numbers that are reflective of the reality of the situation. 

“I would not say these are the number of homeless people in total because the only way you will know that is if we do this count, I would say at least two or three times so that you can get a better idea,” he explained, adding that this approach will ensure that various factors influencing homelessness, such as seasonal changes, are adequately captured. 

Minister Humphrey revealed the ministry, along with the University of the West Indies, employed 50 students for fieldwork, collaborating with organisations like the Barbados Alliance to End Homelessness and the Soroptimist, among others.

“This is the count on the night of December 12, and I’ve asked the University, and I’ve also asked the ministry to at least do this for another three times so that we have a better understanding of the reality of the amount of persons who are homeless,” he said. (RG)