Various organisations yesterday backed up a woman's claim that Bermuda did not have an emergency shelter for families who find themselves without a home.

"There is no emergency housing for families,'' said People's Coalition for Affordable Housing spokeswoman Roseamarie Pedro, who yesterday organised a protest against the lack of affordable housing. Picture: Page 2 In Friday's Royal Gazette the woman -- who is currently providing shelter to three families in her home -- called on Government to provide emergency housing for families in need.

Emergency housing is available for unwed teenage mothers, the physically abused, couples and even Regiment soldiers but there is no temporary shelters for families in Bermuda.

But Housing Minister Wayne Furbert said on Thursday that "all of the emergency shelter had been used up as emergency housing''.

Yesterday, June Augustus of the Physical Abuse Centre said they often received calls from families without a roof over their heads.

And she pointed out that not all of those in need were necessarily homeless or unemployed.

"If we are not full at the time and someone is in desperate need, we will take them in,'' Mrs. Augustus said. "We do need more short-term emergency shelters.'' A Women's Resource Centre volunteer admitted they too received a "lot'' of calls regarding emergency housing for families and usually referred the calls to Social Services, Housing Assistance or the Physical Abuse Centre.

The Haven, operated by Teen Services, only offers refuge to unwed teenage mothers between the ages of 16 and 21 with one child.

"Many years ago we catered to families but we don't do it anymore,'' said a worker.

And the Salvation Army shelter on Parson's Road in Pembroke only has accommodation for men and women.

Even the Bermuda Regiment has been called upon to provide shelter to those without homes.

Adjutant Capt. Edward Lamb admitted that the Regiment did provide temporary housing for solders who were of no fixed abode.

"It does not happen frequently but it does periodically occur,'' he said.

"We do have one person staying with us at the moment.'' Shadow Housing Minister Renee Webb agreed with the recent call for emergency housing for families who temporarily find themselves without shelter.

And she said that the whole housing issue, including low income housing and housing assistance, needed to be examined.

Emergency shelter demand rises "There are a lot of issues that need to be looked at,'' Ms Webb said. "The whole housing approach needs to be looked at.'' She said Government's approach was "not realistic'', especially the practice of setting rents at a certain price in areas deem for low income housing, and then providing supplements for those who could not afford the rent.

"Rents should be based on income instead of charging high rents and then supplementing them,'' Ms Webb said. "You have to look at the individual needs of the tenants. Not all people can afford the same rent. What some may consider affordable may be out of someone else reach. And that's why they run into problems.'' PLP MP Stanley Morton said that during his time as the Shadow Housing Minister he was made painfully aware of the housing problem in Bermuda.

"In the Pembroke East Central area there is a lot of it,'' he said. "These situations arise constantly and there should be a place to allow people to get themselves together for a week or two.'' Neither Mr. Furbert or Ed Cowen of the Bermuda Housing Corporation were available for comment yesterday.