The plight of the VI homeless a growing problem & source of shame!
Some of them are elderly and have taken up residence at Dr D. Orlando Smith Hospital in Road Town, the capital city. The number has fluctuated, with a high of over 10 persons.
BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA) and the Ministry of Health and Social Development (MH&SD) have been working for the past seven years to reduce the number of persons making the hospital their home by reaching out to some of the families, but there are some with genuinely no place to go. Some families are unable to take them in and others have refused to leave the hospital.
Who is Sonnel?
At night, there are others you can find around the capital Road Town sleeping in abandoned buildings and the stench is not always acceptable. One noted person is a ‘Sonnel.’ While he appears not to be violent, he is often found at night sleeping at the BVI Ports Authority building at the Road Town Waterfront.
It is unclear if ‘Sonnel’ has mental challenges or where he showers, defecates, or does a change of clothes; however, he is most often seen begging in the streets or having a conversation with those who are trying to help him.
Another person who is believed to be a vagrant goes by the name of 'Burt'. He is sometimes seen asking persons for money to buy food. It is unclear where 'Burt' rests his head at night.
Regrettably, there are no statistics available from any Government agency or non-government organisations in the Virgin Islands (VI) to show if the growing homelessness is caused because of mental illness, financial hardships, loss of jobs, family abandonment, or the remnants of the 2017 hurricanes.
Government Responses
The homelessness situation on the sister islands of Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost van Dyke is not immediately known, but it’s believed the problem is not as pronounced as on the main island of Tortola. On the eastern side of Tortola, homeless persons are seen walking the streets begging for food and money. Some of them appear to have mental issues.
There is also the Adina Donovan Home for the Elderly, a place that caters to the elderly and those with nowhere to go or whose families can no longer afford to take care of them.
The government of the VI has tried to help by building social homes for many of these residents who are eligible and have not been financially able to repair their homes after the devastating hurricanes of 2017. There is also an ongoing housing assistance programme run by the Ministry of Health and Social Development.
There is also the Safe Haven Transition Centre, formerly 'Sandy Lane Centre’ that also plays a role in helping the homeless population to develop their skills and resources for independent living.
One thing is clear, the issue of homelessness is growing and there are those with homes but are living in stark poverty, with living conditions many residents will not believe exist in the Territory.
Efforts to get a comment from the Minister for Health and Social Development Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9) and the BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA) were unsuccessful up to the time of publication.
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32 Responses to “The plight of the VI homeless a growing problem & source of shame!”
Sonnel s violent. He slaps people when they don't give him what he wants. I guess he knows who to do that to because the day he does that to me, all hell gone break loose.
LMFAO!! tell that to the tourist he slap off
Come on ELECTED Politician do your jobs. There should not be homeless individuals not being taken care of in Tortola BVI.
Bert and Sonnel both pose a threat to the safety of others but those in authority choose to turn a blind eye. Nothing will be done until they rape or seriously injure someone in some way. It’s sad but it is the reality when you are dealing with a reactive government ministry.