It may have been promised for years but that didn't stop Salvation Army head Major Doug Lewis from celebrating a renewed pledge by Government to replace the shelter in North Street.

He told The Royal Gazette: "It is a great start.

"It is the entrance point to the continuum of care."

That concept would see the homeless enter the system and then work through transitional housing and then hopefully be able to support themselves.

The Salvation Army house 55 people at their crumbling shelter on North Street in Pembroke.

The first prefab huts opened in 1982, another hut was added a year later. It was thought they would last a maximum of 15 years. But 25 years on, they are still there.

Announcements to revamp the existing building were first mooted in 2000 but nothing happened. The 2005 Throne Speech contained a pledge to start work on a night shelter for 200 people and money was set aside but work wasn't begun.

Asked if he believed something would finally happen this time Mr. Lewis added: "I have not seen any plans but I am confident enough with the meetings we have had with the minister that it is a goer. I am confident."

However there is no time line for when work will start said Mr. Lewis.

"But it is good news, now it is open we can persue it.

Mr. Lewis, who believes there are around 400 homeless as Bermuda's homeless problem keeps growing, hopes Government will at least double the 50 beds.