The unfortunate reality remains that affordable housing for Bermudians is a logistical challenge. We have a growing population with limited land to build on, with construction material and labour costs at a very high rate.

Additionally, many landlords have either stopped renting altogether or have converted to holiday rentals. Nevertheless, our mandate of expanding Bermudian access to affordable housing is one our government’s top priorities.

Beyond giving more opportunities to spend less of your pay on housing, we also seek to deliver dignity and stability to more families.

What we have achieved

Through the hard work of the staff at the Bermuda Housing Corporation, we have achieved the following:

• Refurbished 68 housing units as part of our commitment to revitalising existing housing stock

• HomeStart Programme: in collaboration with Clarien Bank, this initiative assists first-time Bermudian homeowners, with 34 families already benefiting

Active initiatives

Our efforts continue with several key initiatives:

• Initiated new renovation projects, including 12 units at Harmony Terrace East in Paget, 12 units at Battery Road in St David’s, five units at Chelsea Apartments in St George’s and four units in Middletown

• Private Sector Rental Programme: privately owned units are being renovated by BHC contractors and then rented directly to the BHC, ensuring guaranteed rent for landlords and increasing affordable housing options for tenants. Thus far, 25 landlords have qualified for this programme. We have capacity for a few more. If you are interested, contact the BHC directly

Future plans

We have implemented the following:

• Decreased the duty on construction-related materials to 10 per cent. This allows homeowners to acquire needed items such as lumber, tile, lighting fixtures, windows, cabinets and air-conditioning units at reduced costs

• Investing a further $17 million in the BHC for the 2025-26 fiscal year

The reality is that the Government, as shown above, is stepping up to the plate to do its part. There are private sector entities that must do more as well. This is the only way we can achieve affordable housing for Bermudians.

• Christopher Famous is the government MP for Devonshire East (Constituency 11) and chairman of the Bermuda Housing Corporation. You can reach him on WhatsApp at 599-0901 or e-mail at carib_pro@yahoo.com