The Salvation Army launched its annual Red Shield month on the steps of City Hall yesterday, revealing a total of $800,000 is required this year to adequately fund its ?plethora? of social programmes.

Following an entertaining musical interlude from the Rhythm Praisers ? who had spectators whooping and clapping while pedestrians stopped and listened on the other side of Church Street ? Bermuda Salvation Army commander Major Lindsay Roe urged Bermudians to give generously to an organisation which is now facing a number of financial difficulties in the face of Government cut-backs.

?We have been partnering with the Bermuda Government to provide services to the homeless and the addicted for more than 28 years now,? he said. ?During that time we have managed the Emergency Housing Complex, a Government owned facility on Marsh Lane and the Harbour Light, a Salvation Army owned facility on King Street with its own after care programme known as Life Skills. While we have enjoyed considerable success with each of these programmes, financing the mission remains our greatest challenge.?

Government last year cut the funding to the Harbour Light and Life Skills programmes by 50 percent while grants to the Emergency Housing Complex are frozen at 1999 levels ? cut-backs which now require the organisation to pour ever more of its time and resources into fund raising.

?In reality, maintaining our programmes is simply not enough,? Major Rowe continued.

?Homelessness is becoming a very serious problem in Bermuda. The number of men and women living on our streets is growing but that?s only the tip of the iceberg. For those who are not employable at present because of a lack of even the most basic requisite skills, Major Rowe announced the launch of an exciting new programme called ?Dreaming in Colour? ? a development scheme which he claimed has ?breathed new life? into the occupants at the Emergency Housing Complex.

While he conceded that 2005 has been a year in which Bermudians have shelled out repeatedly for those in need, Major Lindsay said the survival of the Salvation Army depended on the country ?getting behind? the Red Shield one more time. ?Next to the Government itself, The Salvation Army is perhaps the largest provider of social services on the Island. These programmes are vital to the community and are greatly appreciated by those who seek our assistance. For many of these people, The Salvation Army is their last resort.?