They group of people who haven "fallen through the cracks''.

They are the homeless, the drug addicted, the unemployed and the lonely, and often they are afraid to turn to the very organisations that can help them overcome their troubles and end their isolation.

And now they have friends. A fledgling charity by the name of "Focus'' aims to help them re-gain their health, their self-esteem and a place in the community, by providing them with the tools they need to rise above their current problems.

Two years ago, addiction counsellors Jerry Griffiths and Sandy Butterfield were attending an addiction studies course at the Bermuda College, where they met up with Captain Max Barritt of the Salvation Army.

"We all got to talking, and it seemed to us that there was something everyone else was overlooking.'' said Mr. Griffiths this week.

"We were talking about the homeless, ex-convicts, and that sort of thing, and we realised that because of their perceptions of formal centres they wouldn't go for the treatment they needed. So we decided to take that help to their doorsteps.'' Mr. Griffiths is someone who knows whereof he speaks. A recovering addict and alcoholic himself, he has been homeless and knows the depths to which one's self-esteem can plunge under those circumstances. He has spent much of his time in recent years helping others overcome their addictions.

They launched Focus at dinner one night at the Salvation Army shelter, offering help to anyone who wanted it. A number of the clients responded soon afterwards.

"Those that contacted us were very eager -- for some of them, it was almost like they had a second chance. A heck of a lot of them never even got to finish primary school, as when they were young the school leaving age was 13.

"Focus is open to anyone, male, female, adults, children, whoever, and it's free.'' While not all the clients they help are addicts or alcoholics, the vast majority are hampered by those dependencies, and Focus can help them acquire the skills they need to break away.

"We want to help as many people as possible,'' said Mr. Griffiths. "A lot of homeless people and addicts are not ready for help, don't want help. But our ideal is to help those people who want help but have a problem going to some kind of formalised treatment centre. We offer addiction counselling, intervention, assessment, and referral.'' Often, he said, people were simply afraid to use the phone, to make a call that would put them in touch with a helping organisation. Focus could make that call for them.

Focus has already had some success in finding employment and housing for some of its clients -- since August last year, six now have full-time jobs, and three have rented their own apartments.

"Having people get a job, and an apartment, and to be able to pay the bills -- it's the little victories like that that bring back their self-esteem. They feel human again.'' "What they really need is someone that will listen to them.'' As well as two full-time counsellors, Focus has a number of volunteer teachers from the Bermuda College and other schools, and other people have volunteered to come and give talks on various aspects of life to the clients.

"We have started a programme to help them get their high-school equivalency, building their self-esteem in the process. Some of our clients come from Fairhaven (a residential drug and alcohol abuse treatment centre for women).

We also offer computer courses.'' Currently based in the "Transitions Building'' operated by the Salvation Army on North Street, Focus is addressing the needs of 12 clients, and hopes to expand that, once it gets the funding it needs through Council Partners.

Thus far, Mr. Griffiths and Mrs. Butterfield have been using their own money to support Focus, but, he says, "the well has run dry.'' Funding will help Focus to get the equipment it needs, such as an overhead projector and a video cassette recorder. They have already receive a donated television set, as well as a computer from the Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse and another computer from Cooper and Lines.

They welcome any donations, in particular of academic materials like exercise books, writing implements, text and reading books.

"We also need space, but we can make do right now,'' Mr. Griffiths said. "We would prefer to remain in the back of town area, as we've got a pretty good rapport going with a lot of people back there now.'' Since its inception, every one of those eager clients who joined the Focus programme has stuck with it. Most of them quickly develop increased self-confidence, increased comprehension and increased participation in the group sessions they attend twice a week. It is quickly filling a need, says Mr. Griffiths, in a non-threatening way that allows people to feel comfortable about taking advantage of its services.

"I can never see it being disbanded. I believe there will always be problems with drugs and alcohol, and there will always be people in need of Focus. We will help as many of them as possible.'' DRUGS SUPPLEMENT DGS