Family Services Minister Renee Webb claimed yesterday.

And she said the Opposition Progressive Labour Party had released a plan to reclaim derelict housing -- similar to one announced by Government recently -- in 1984, which had been rejected by the ruling United Bermuda Party.

Ms Webb said: "Today, in 1998, Bermuda is in the midst of a housing crisis.

This is a fact.'' She added: "In a Country the size of Bermuda, that boasts one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, it is unacceptable that even one Bermudian is living in unsuitable conditions without secure housing.

"The provision of proper housing for its citizens must be the benchmark to test the responsiveness and ability of any Government. If a Government fails to plan for the future, they've planned to fail'' Ms Webb said the PLP was especially worried about; Overcrowding; Unhealthy and unsuitable homes; and Affordable housing for low-income families.

Ms Webb said that a PLP Government would "ensure that Bermudians families in need will have their rents fixed according to their income.'' She explained that one Government housing area, Fentons Drive in Pembroke, had a variety of tenants on different incomes and all with different levels of state income support.

But Ms Webb said: "By fixing the rents to income, families can budget properly. They will know what portion of their income will go to housing their family and what income is left for the other expenses.'' And she added that high rents for low-income families in Government housing who then needed financial assistance were "illogical'' and "demeaning.'' Ms Webb said: "It also creates a welfare mentality. The PLP believes that low-income families need a hand-up not a hand-out.'' Studies abroad have shown that children who live in overcrowded housing do not do as well at school as better-off youngsters -- partly because there is nowhere quiet to do homework.

Ms Webb said: "Many educators have informed the PLP that the impact of lack of secure, adequate housing is evident in the productivity of our children -- our future.'' And she warned: "It is clear that once the unity of the Bermudian family is at risk, then the consequences of turmoil place Bermuda as a whole at a risk.'' Ms Webb's running mate in Hamilton East, Derrick Burgess, added that 54 houses made available on the base lands should not all be sold off, but half retained for rental.

Ms Webb added: "We will always have certain people who are outside the market with respect to buying.

"Ideally, it would be wonderful if everyone could afford to buy their own house -- but, realistically, that's not going to be the case.'' She backed Government's recently announced "step up'' mortgage scheme, which starts off with low repayments which increase as wealth grows.

But she added "that's one of the ways to go, but not the only way to go.'' GOVERNMENT GVT