The majority of Bermuda's homeless population may be elderly, according to the executive director of Age Concern — but the Island lacks a dedicated facility to house them.

Claudette Fleming told The Royal Gazette there were estimated to be at least 300 people living on the Island's streets.

"Most of those people are older people," she claimed. "I bet a large proportion of those are over the age of 60 or 65."

Ms Fleming said the problem wasn't being tackled aggressively by Government but should be.

Among those without a roof over their heads, according to concerned experts, are a war veteran in his eighties and a very sick diabetic man.

Seniors cannot stay in the Salvation Army's overnight shelters.

The charity's policy is that those aged 65 and over should come under the care of the National Office for Seniors and the Physically Challenged — but the government-run agency admits there aren't enough beds available for destitute elderly people.

The NOSPC, which is the responsibility of the Ministry of Health, does not keep statistics on the number of homeless seniors, according to acting manager John Payne.

He said a report was done by former Health Minister Nelson Bascome but added: "I do not know what the outcome was."

Mr. Payne said the NOSPC could only "provide advice and direction to service users". "There is a shortage of bed space for institutionalised rest and nursing home care," he admitted.

The late Mr. Bascome's report on the homeless has never been released.

Health permanent secretary Warren Jones told this newspaper last month he was "unable to research information on the status of that report".

He said homelessness was now the shared responsibility of the Ministry for Labour, Home Affairs and Housing and the Ministry of Culture and Social Rehabilitation

Labour permanent secretary Derrick Binns said the report was not with his Ministry. Culture permanent secretary Wayne Carey said: "As far as I am aware, the report to which you refer was never authorised for release to the public. To my knowledge, there haven't been any homeless reports released to the public."

Government backbencher Dale Butler said he found a copy of Mr. Bascome's homeless report when he took charge as Culture and Social Rehabilitation Minister several years ago.

"I was initially told to leave it alone, that we didn't need it as another responsibility," claimed Mr. Butler. "I was shocked. I was advised: 'Minister, do we really need another project?' I decided that, yes, we did."

The report inspired Mr. Butler — now a contender to become PLP leader — to make his documentary film "Out Among The Ins" and to order another report, which has also never been made public but estimated the number of homeless at 350.

Asked about homeless seniors, he said: "All I know is that there are a number of them." He said some ended up at the Salvation Army and some at Lefroy House rest home.

Told that the Salvation Army wouldn't accept them and that there was a shortage of beds elsewhere, Mr. Butler said: "Then it is a tragedy."

He pledged to make homelessness a key focus in his bid to become party leader and Premier. "Win or lose, the needy will win some support from me," he said.

Lionel Cann, from the Salvation Army, confirmed the charity's policy concerning those aged 65 and over.

He said when he managed the men's shelter he encouraged those nearing that age to start claiming a pension and seeking a rest home place.

Describing one homeless senior, Mr. Cann said: "He's a war veteran, probably 80 or 81, and he lives on the street."

Louise Jackson, Shadow Minister for Health and Seniors, said she was in touch with a homeless senior with diabetes "who has lost fingers and toes". "He is a very sick man," she added.

Mrs. Jackson said Government was "studiously ignoring" the homeless issue. "They know that the seniors — those over 65 — have nowhere to go. It's a terrible problem."

Culture and Social Rehabilitation Minister Neletha Butterfield did not respond to requests for an interview.

Her Ministry's acting PS did not reply to questions about the number of homeless seniors and the services available to them.