A homeless man who sought shelter in a Hamilton apartment as Hurricane Gert approached in September, last week began serving a three-month prison term.

And a homeless advocate has decried the sentence, saying the Island must begin to see street people as individuals first and accept the fact there was a significant homeless population here.

Andrew Gavin Arorash, 29, told Magistrate Archibald Warner he was "kind of sorry'' for trespassing on September 21. Arorash -- an admitted drug addict -- pleaded guilty to trespassing in an unoccupied apartment in Ernest George Peavey's building at 14 Joells Alley.

Junior Crown counsel Veronica Daley said Arorash was found by a tenant, acting for Mr. Peavey while he was abroad. She said Arorash was confronted and told the man: "I'm here to get a rest.'' The man attempted to restrain Arorash, but he escaped and was caught by Police on September 26.

Mrs. Daley said Arorash told Police he entered the apartment through an insecure window "during the hurricane''.

When Mr. Warner asked him if he had anything to say about the offence, Arorash said: "I'm kind of sorry, just kind of.'' After hearing that Arorash already had a suspended three-month prison sentence for theft last March, and a history of trespassing, Mr. Warner jailed him on two consecutive three-month prison sentences.

Arorash said nothing when he was sentenced. In April, Senior Magistrate Will Francis sentenced him to three months in prison for possessing drug equipment and 12 months for having that equipment inside an increased penalty zone.

It was not clear if the 12-month sentence or another two-year conditional discharge for stealing had also been activated.

In June, controversial Magistrate Edward King said Bermuda had not treated its "underprivileged'' people as well as disaster victims abroad, while giving Arorash a conditional discharge for stealing.

Mr. King did not activate the drug-related sentences, saying: "It is cheaper for the public to find a fellow like that (Arorash) a job and a place (to live) than to keep him in prison for $44,500 a year.'' Plea to help the homeless Last week, Hands of Love coordinator Fern Wade said Bermuda must come to grips with the problem of homelessness.

The first place to start, she said would be with a definition of what it means to be homeless in all its degrees.

"We need to define what homelessness is,'' Mrs. Wade said. "We have not put a meaning to it.

"Government cannot even show you statistics on the number of homeless.

"There are people living in the trees, abandoned cars, and in abandoned buildings, and there is nothing being done.'' Explaining the charity is currently providing shelter to two people who had been living in a wooded area, she said jailing the homeless is not the solution.

"I'm not condoning trespassing, we have to uphold the law,'' she said.

"But just as with an individual stealing a loaf of bread you have to ask why, so should you with a homeless person stealing some shelter before you throw him in jail or put him in the courts.'' Mrs. Wade explained that many homeless people choose not to stay in organised shelters, like Hands of Love or the Salvation Army, for personal reasons.

"The emphasis has to be placed on the individual and their needs,'' she added. "Why are we so apt to throw them into Westgate (Correctional Facility)? "Is Westgate becoming a homeless shelter? That's what it is -- a homeless shelter.'' Salvation Army divisional secretary Wilson Noble said people who live outside structured shelters "choose'' to be homeless -- but the church is always trying to bring those people in.

"There is a certain element, no matter what, and it doesn't matter what is provided for them, choose to be homeless,'' he said. "The Salvation Army is allways trying to build bridges with the homeless, in the event they change their minds, they can come to us.'' Maj. Noble said as Gert approached, the Emergency Housing Complex was full -- as it is on most nights -- but extra cots and supplies were on hand for an expected influx.

Throughout the following day as the storm lashed the Island, the shelter stayed open, rather than its usual practice of closing during the daytime.

"Homeless people that break the law choose to break the law just as freely they choose to be homeless. They are much happier out there than they are in a structured shelter.'' While the EHC is full, Maj. Noble said if there were additional demand, then the Salvation Army and other charities will make or find space.

"People have to want help before they can get it,'' he said.