It was one small step for young Jamahria to take the key and open the door of her new home, but it represented a giant leap for the whole of Bermuda and the many families desperately seeking affordable housing.

Proud Emma Burchall watched her granddaughter unlock a bright future for them both and told the new home meant she no longer had to live in cramped conditions with relatives which has been her life for the past two years since her former home was wrecked by Hurricane Fabian.

?We have been staying in Alexandra Road and Jamahria didn?t have anywhere to play there. If she went outside she was right on the road,? she said.

Now the family will be able to spread out in a purpose-built brand new home off Orange Hole Road which has plenty of green space where Jamahria can play safely to her heart?s delight.

The joy was tangible and was repeated nearby at St. George?s where an historical former military hospital has been restored to its former glory and turned into six apartments for those seeking an affordable roof over their heads.

Previously the Grade 3 listed historic building was in a run-down state and the Bermuda Housing Corporation (BHC) moved its tenants out so that workmen could move in and transform it into accommodation fit for the 21st century.

It took 18 months to complete the project and during that time many surprises previously lost in the mists of time came to light, including the discovery of an old wine cellar and a false ceiling that was removed to restore the grandeur of the cavernous entrance room.

Darrell Raghoo, projects manager at BHC, said workers scrapping the paintwork on the outside of the building had uncovered the original coating and decided to repaint the building in the same colour tone that it had in the 1700s.

Tenant Carol Furbert moved out while the work was being done and was delighted to be handed a key to her new home at Sandhurst from Premier Alex Scott.

She told : ?I lived here for eight years before they relocated me to Southside for two years while they were doing the work. It looks a lot better now, it?s very nice.?

The building?s redevelopment means it now has two extra apartments, while at Orange Hole the BHC has created 21 apartments of three and two bedroom size along with one studio unit.

Housing Minister Ashfield DeVent said: ?Today signifies that we are finding light at the end of what seems to be a very dark tunnel - which is providing affordable housing for Bermudians in need.?

He said that with the Government-formed Housing Initiatives Committee it had been possible to conduct an Islandwide housing study to identify the needs of the community.

?The Committee has focused its efforts on what we have termed as the Ministry?s Five Year Housing Strategy. Our current goal is to devise a plan which articulates the delivery of more than 300 rental units over the next two and a half years, to address those most impacted by the housing challenges.?

Praising the BHC for completing the Orange Hole and Sandhurst projects on time, Mr. DeVent added: ?Lack of affordable housing has become increasingly important over the years and it is an area where the Government has dedicated its attention. ?I want to repeat a call for the country to take a ?holistic? approach to tackling and solving the challenge. This means embracing ideas that may be unique.?

Having helped to cut the ribbons at the two projects he told that the housing needs would be addressed through new builds and renovating old properties.

?It is a combination of the two. It is very important to build on space that?s already been built on previously in order to maintain the green and open spaces on the Island.?

Since 1998 the BHC has housed nearly 400 new families in rental units and provided a similar number of mortgages for families wanting to own their own home.