The Salvation Army has laid bare the full extent of its projected $300,000 funding shortfall amid a war of words between the Government and Opposition over finance for its projects.

Major Lindsay Rowe spoke out after the Health Minister responded to publicity about the charity by saying she was ?fed up? with requests for more funding.

?I want to make it very clear that we have no political axe to grind ? we are fighting for our very survival here,? said the Major, who is the Divisional Commander of the Salvation Army in Bermuda.

The Royal Gazette reported last week how the charity?s shelter for the homeless in Marsh Lane, Pembroke ? the only one of its kind on the Island ? has major problems with its rotting 30-year-old structure.

Major Rowe warned at the same time that the life-saving Harbour Light project for homeless addicts could fold without extra Government cash.

Health Minister Patrice Minors later told the House of Assembly that she believed the Salvation Army was trying to force the Government?s hand over funding.

Giving new details in response to this yesterday, Major Rowe said that because the Government slashed the grant for the life-saving Harbour Light programme by $250,000 two years ago the charity has had to dramatically increase its appeal target.

?In response to severe cutbacks which now threaten the very survival of the programme we have raised our Red Shield appeal goal to $844,000 but this appeal is currently $75,000 below last year?s income at this time when in reality it needs to come up with an additional $300,000 to meet all projections,? he said.

?Currently Government funding for Harbour Light and Life Skills programmes amounts to $297,170 while the Salvation Army contributes $472,752.

?The public needs to know that while Government provides for 100 percent of the $450,000 operational costs of the shelter, the Salvation Army provides one hundred percent of the programme costs, which are $34,340. Government funds allow us to manage the facility only and even this could only be done with significant cuts to services such as meals and security.

?My concern is that The Salvation Army?s real agenda should not be obscured by political debates. We speak up for the homeless and the addict, it is unfortunate if there is a high price to pay for speaking on their behalf but what should The Salvation Army do if we cannot continue vital services or improve our service because of funding cuts??

Major Rowe added that as a result of publicity about the state of the shelter, several companies have come forward with offers to help renovate it.

One of these has even offered to help pay for the re-build and the Salvation Army has now brought all of the offers to the attention of the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Health.

?This would have to be a partnership between the Salvation Army, these companies and the Government,? he said. ? I?m hoping that we will be able to work together effectively as a team.?

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