The Bermuda Housing Trust will look to register as a charity to assist with fundraising, the House of Assembly heard today.

Zane DeSilva, the Minister of Housing and Municipalities, said the move under the Charities Act would allow the private sector to assist the Government in building more homes.

Mr DeSilva added that the Trust would look for more collaboration with the Bermuda Housing Corporation, including refurbishing an ageing trust complex at a rate of $125,000 per unit.

He told MPs: “The two organisations are, after all, in the same business — providing the most affordable housing possible — and they often share the same waiting list of seniors in need.”

Mr DeSilva said that working more closely could yield efficiencies for the Trust that would cut costs, “particularly when and where issues of maintenance arise”.

The details came as Mr DeSilva spoke on the BHT’s 2024-25 audit. He noted that the charity registration would coincide with the ten-year Bermuda Affordable Housing Strategy, which included the construction of a Bermuda Housing Corporation complex in Southampton offering 110 new units for seniors.

Mr DeSilva said the Trust would look to renovate 16 units at Dr Cann Park by using the BHC’s private sector refurbishment programme.

The partnership would assist eight BHC senior tenants and eight Bermuda Housing Trust clients.

The co-operation would also offer new stock for the Trust as it dealt with ageing housing.

He reminded the House the Trust was managing “extensive, much needed renovations” to its Dr Cann Park complex in Southampton, with “substantial progress” made after it stalled due to a switch in contractors.

Mr DeSilva said: “This is important as Dr Cann Park provides accommodation for up to 100 seniors and represents a significant revenue stream for the Trust.

“I am also pleased to note that this is a project on which the Trust availed itself of the supervisory assistance of the Bermuda Housing Corporation and is showing the value of the two organisations working together.”

The Bermuda Housing Trust, which offers affordable housing to seniors, holds 185 rental units across five properties — mainly one-bedrooms units where rents range between $875 and $1,100, at a median of about $1,000.