Bermuda does not possess the facilities to adequately provide for the Island?s homeless ? although many who live on the streets do not help themselves.

This is according to Salvation Army chief Major Lindsay Rowe, who told The Royal Gazette that although the charity does its best to accommodate all those in need at its Parsons Road facility, there are many who prefer to remain on the streets rather than be subject to the strict no drugs policy.

?What you have got to bear in mind is that there are quite a number of people out on the streets by choice or because they are drug addicts who do not wish to stop,? he said.

?The rules of the emergency housing complex are perfectly clear. We do not allow any drugs onto the premises and unfortunately there are those who do not wish to subject themselves to those rules. In Canada, for instance, even where the temperatures can drop below freezing, there are still homeless people who prefer to remain where they are, so it is a very complex problem.

?If it was just a matter of putting up more buildings to solve the problem then everything would be straightforward. It isn?t. We are overcrowded however, and there is a need for expansion on various levels, including more dormitories.?

Major Rowe conceded that something needed to be done about the homeless sleeping on and occasionally defiling public property, as photos sent to The Royal Gazette this week of people sleeping around City Hall clearly demonstrated.

?For the moment, we are working very closely with the Police on this issue, while three times a week we go around town providing soup and sandwiches and making sure everybody is reasonably comfortable.?