A Government Minister has hit back at claims it has taken a haphazard approach to addressing the housing crisis. reported on August 2 how a report in the independent Sustainable Development Committee draft strategy expressed surprise that there was no separate housing department and said policy appeared to have developed in an ad hoc manner and that there was no coordinated policy.

The remarks were picked up on by Opposition Senator Kim Swan who said in Tuesday?s that a ?fundamental shift in thinking and commitment,? was needed.

However, Paula Cox, the Minister of Finance and Acting Minister of Works Engineering and Housing, responded by saying that the Government was committed to addressing housing needs.

She said she was proud to note the ?considerable efforts? of Housing Minister David Burch who has forged public-private partnerships to address the issue.

She added that the Ministry is anticipating a number of new units on the housing market for sale and rent. She pointed to Sen. Burch?s recent report to the Senate which listed these as including housing initiatives at Morgan?s Point, Beacon Hill and Butterfield Lane in Somerset, plus Southside and the Harbour View lottery-winner project.

Ms Cox said 282 of a proposed 330 units are under contract with more to come.

?The Government remains completely focused on the housing situation in Bermuda and is committed to addressing the Island?s housing needs while always mindful of the public purse,? she added.