homeless should materialise in August, The Royal Gazette learned yesterday.

Acting chairperson of Government's homeless committee, Mrs. Sharon Merlo said the committee, which works within the Health and Social Services Ministry, was working hard to meet this goal.

And while Health and Social Services Minister the Hon. Quinton Edness would not disclose the building's location as negotiations are still ongoing, he said: "It is within a good area of the city. Most of the homeless are in that proximity.'' Both Mr. Edness and Mrs. Merlo stressed that the long term aim of the project was to help Bermuda's homeless -- estimated to be at least 250 -- redevelop and reintegrate into society.

Mr. Edness said the home would offer housing, counselling and rehabilitation programmes.

Residents who find jobs but cannot afford rents in the private sector, will be expected to pay a nominal rent at the shelter.

"The system is used elsewhere in dealing with the homeless,'' Mr. Edness explained. "The Salvation Army uses that here. People stake out a bed there and eventually they pay a bit each week.'' Efforts will also be made to reconcile residents with their family, he said.

The homeless committee, which includes members of the Salvation Army, Works and Engineering, St. Brendan's Hospital and Social Services, is also looking for a building in or near Hamilton to turn into a day-care centre for the homeless.

Mr. Edness said the centre, which will need community support in the form of volunteers, will be a place where the homeless can go for lunch, counselling and "other advice that will help them normalise their lifestyle.'' Noting that many of the homeless suffer from substance abuse or mental disorders, he said providing rehabilitation for homeless was equally as important as providing shelter.

Government has already budgeted for another Salvation Army shelter near the present one on North Street, Mr. Edness said.

The 24-bed shelter, which would bring the Army's emergency shelter beds up to about 115, will be built by the Housing Corporation.

Salvation Army divisional secretary Major Gilbert St. Onge said plans were submitted a few weeks ago to the Planning Department.

But he pointed out that additional shelter alone would not solve Bermuda's homeless problem.

"We are full,'' he said about the Army's existing shelter. "And I'm sure that when we build another shelter that will be full.

"The need for shelter for the homeless has been quite a growing need over the last few months.

"But not only are we concerned about their (the homeless) immediate needs, but also their needs over the long term.'' Major St. Onge said the Army's "bottom line was basically to take people who are in the situation socially where they cannot do for themselves, and help them achieve self-confidence and a productive lifestyle, and also help them towards another level of housing.'' "There are those who choose to stay in the streets and who only come here for meals,'' he said. "We cannot force people into a shelter. But I'm sure there are those who want more than they've got. The shelter can provide therapeutic counselling and we try to get those who are prepared to help themselves and be helped to achieve this.''