Shadow Health and Seniors Minister Louise Jackson has blasted Government for claiming that a 76-year-old man who has slept rough for more than a decade is not homeless.

The plight of "Marshall" — not his real name — was revealed earlier this month by The Royal Gazette, prompting Government to state that he was not homeless as "he can stay with family if he wishes".

Mrs. Jackson said Marshall's case highlighted the fact that "there are countless men, women and children living in abandoned buildings, cars, caves, on the beach and the street" in Bermuda.

"The Government has allowed a homeless man to live on the streets for years, saying his family is taking care of him," said the Opposition MP.

"This man — Marshall — has been assessed by a physician who has diagnosed him as having dementia, yet he is still on the street, even after members of the public and [Salvation Army volunteer] Lucy Willets have made his story known."

She added: "Many of the homeless do not want to be on the street but do not 'qualify for help'. Many have dementia or other disorders. It is quite obvious that if families were really taking care of them they would not be uncared for and hungry."

Mrs. Jackson said there were homeless people with diabetes and other health problems who received medication but did not eat the right diet to control their illnesses.

"In the case of one man, even with a doctor's letter stating the urgent need for this person to have shelter and food, he is still on the street," she claimed.

The UBP politician insisted the only help available to most homeless people was from the Salvation Army — yet Government slashed the charity's grant in 2006.

"Government did not address the needs of the poor and homeless five years ago and they are not doing so today," claimed Mrs. Jackson.

"We have highlighted the need to upgrade the facilities of the rotting 30-year-old Salvation Army Shelter and pleaded with Government to help the Salvation Army financially with the care of the homeless.

"We opposed the closure of the clinic at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital that many poor, elderly and homeless Bermudians depended on — to no avail."

Government has admitted it has no "overarching" strategy to help the homeless but hopes to be able to "plan the way forward" using data from the 2010 Census.

Mrs. Jackson said that was unacceptable. "This is appalling as the census data collection has not been finished and it will be at least a year before statistics are released.

"The Salvation Army, [Hands of Love founder] Fern Wade, charities and our churches are doing a sterling job of helping the homeless with the limited resources they have but it is time for Government to stop hiding behind these charities and give help in a meaningful way.

"This PLP Government needs to get its priorities in order and do more than give lip service to its 'social agenda'. It needs to cut back on the wasted money spent on ministerial travel, music festivals, overseas consultants and huge capital project overruns and redirect some of these resources to assist the poor and homeless."

PLP leadership contender Dale Butler launched his bid to become Premier on Tuesday with a pledge to build a new homeless shelter.