Families who today faced being thrown out of a fire-ravaged former hotel have been granted a ?grace period? to allow them to find alternative accommodation.

Twelve adults and nine children have continued to live at the Leopards? Plaza, Brunswick Street, Pembroke, despite the blaze rendering it uninhabitable in January. Their tenancy contracts expired today ? meaning they have spent the past few weeks desperately searching for somewhere else to live.

However, Bermuda Housing Corporation (BHC) yesterday delivered them letters saying they could stay until alternative accommodation is found.

Housing Minister Senator David Burch insisted BHC was working ?diligently? to rehouse the tenants, with Warwick Camp, Youth and Sport camping facilities being considered as a temporary solution.

Sen. Burch said the emergency housing facilities remained at 100 percent capacity. He announced BHC had taken over some of the administration of the building from its owners the Leopards? Club.

Sen. Burch said in a statement: ?At a meeting earlier today between BHC management and the president of the Leopards? Club, Mr. Denny Richardson, the Leopards? Club have accepted the BHC offer to administer the collection of outstanding arrears and the relocation of the tenants. ?This agreement is effective today and will allow the grace period for relocation. Clearly, this is not the ideal situation, but provides for some respite while efforts continue to address this problem.?

A mother-of-three, who lives at the Leopards? Plaza, said last night: ?A man from BHC came and gave us all a letter saying they had made a deal and that we could stay.

?It was a relief because a lot of us hadn?t been able to find anywhere to go. The ones with children were especially worried.?

The 30-year-old said she would continue to look for a place of her own because she did not believe Warwick Camp would be suitable for her children.

Delivering his statement yesterday, Sen. Burch repeated his claim that all the Plaza?s then tenants were interviewed by BHC staff in June last year to encourage them to register at BHC.

He said only two out of 14 registered at BHC. ?Staff of the Corporation, along with staff of the Department of Financial Assistance, have visited the Leopards? Club on several occasions since then to assist residents,? he said.

?Some of the reluctance of residents to register with the Corporation is as a result of their outstanding arrears with both the Corporation as former tenants and with the Leopards? Club.

?As the emergency housing facilities remain at 100 percent, the Corporation has worked diligently during this time to find alternative accommodations.?

He said that of the 16 Leopards? Plaza units, half have been housed.

?The remaining eight units comprise twelve adults and nine children,? he added. ?Efforts will not cease until all are alternatively housed.?

Sen. Burch repeated his call for people to come forward and help the residents.

He said: ?It is prudent to remind that Bermuda is a community that prides itself on helping those in need, and this is a prime opportunity for our community to come together to aid our fellow Bermudians. Additionally, I want to encourage family members of the affected Leopards? Club tenants to do their part and come to the aid of their relatives.?

Mr. Richardson refused to comment last night.