A mother of two was handed keys to a new home in Sandys after waiting a year-and-a-half for affordable housing.

Lovaine Tucker, an administrative assistant, will move into her new two bedroom home on Butterfield Lane, Sandys, in the New Year.

Two weeks ago Ms Tucker was told she had been chosen from a long list of people to move into the new development. She said she is still delighted and overcome by the news.

She said: "I have been waiting nearly two years for a home and this just proves that the Government is definitely listening to the people.

"It's really hard to find affordable housing on this Island and it's wonderful that the Government is actually helping the people. Because of this home I now have hope again."

Ms Tucker said her two children Lakaila, six, and Jehrai, three, were also excited about the move.

Housing Minister, Sen. David Burch, said the development was the first of its kind on the Island because it was a geared-to-income housing complex.

Yesterday, he said the new affordable housing development cost more than $2.5 million as he cut the ribbon and presented Ms Tucker with her keys.

Tenants' rent will be based on their monthly income. They will be charged a quarter of their monthly earnings for their home. He said that the family's economic standing will be assessed every two years.

Sen. Burch said, the people moving into the development will not receive any other government assistance.

He said: "This is a major departure from the norm and is a tangible way for the government to demonstrate a real commitment to providing for our people."

The home is one of eight units built on the site by the Government, two of the homes have three bedrooms while the other six have two bedrooms. Prior to construction there were four units on the site which have also been incorporated into the geared-to-income scheme.

Currently there are approximately 200 people on the Bermuda Housing Corporation's waiting list for affordable housing, the Senator said. The BHC chose the occupants for the eight new units based on a variety of criteria. The length of time people had been on the waiting list was taken into account as was their current living conditions and the housing their housing needs.

Last week Sen. Burch unveiled 16 new affordable homes in St. George's.

The Anchorage Village project, saw the Government refurbish four dilapidated buildings into smart two bedroom apartments.

He said:" Over the past year, we have made significant progress and 2007 bodes well for even greater occasion such as this when we can actually hand over keys to Bermudian families."