Relief for homeless people and singles looking for affordable housing may come soon, the Salvation Army revealed this week.

The Army announced that it intends to build a new multi-functional, purpose-built building at its current Harbour Light property and the current Emergency Housing Complex on Marsh Lane site will be demolished and rebuilt.

The Harbour Light building will offer temporary accommodation and will also house the organisation's Community and Family Services Department, the Community Mental Health Team, the Community Life Skills Programme and the thrift shop.

Major Lindsay Rowe told Hamilton Rotary Club, the new facilities will offer single rooms for people who are working and will offer dormitories as well.

The King Street site will be knocked down to accommodate a new six-floor development.

The Salvation Army's intend to improve the Emergency Housing Complex - in cooperation with the Ministry of Health - to accommodate more people who are substance and alcohol abusers.

Major Rowe said he did not know what the final costs would be, but estimated that they could be around $8 million.

To help fund the building project the Army will sell the Reid Street Headquarters, conducting fund raising events and renting the single rooms.

The Harbour Light facility when rebuilt on King Street will be replaced with a 100-bed facility. Harbour Light - which provides rehabilitation services to substance and alcohol abusers - currently houses 82 clients who range in age between 18 to 55 for men and 23 to 40 for women.

People who use the Harbour Light can reserve a bed and make a donation of whatever they can afford.

He said there are 7,287 meals served to residents and 7,464 served to the homeless. It is funded by the National Drug Commission (NDC) and The Red Shield Appeal campaign.

Major Rowe's announcement comes in the wake of news that there are approximately 125 people on the Bermuda Housing Corporation's waiting list for emergency housing, while another 55 single men face eviction from the Canadian Hotel, which has been threatened with closure by the Planning Department due to unsafe conditions. Major Rowe also updated the Rotary Club on the Salvation Army's other activities.

He said that last year 1,361 families received help from the Salvation Army. Of that number, 569 received help at Christmas, 170 were singles, a total of 810 children were given 2,500 toys and 900 pieces of clothing.

Throughout the year 173 clients came to the Army's Community and Family Services for counselling. And 5,258 bowls of soup have been distributed to our homeless who live on the street.

The Salvation Army has also started a breakfast and lunch programme at a number of schools for children who arrive at school without breakfast or lunch. They also invite other schools to contact them if they have similar cases.

When asked how Bermuda rates with other countries on providing care for homeless and "at risk" people, Major Rowe said there was a higher level of usage on the Island compared to Canada and the United States, but he attributed that to the fact Bermudians are more aware of the services the Army offers than people do elsewhere.