Bermuda's fourth housing complex for seniors, Ferguson Park at Southside, will begin taking in its new residents this month - but the need remains for more such developments.

The Bermuda Housing Corporation was bombarded with applications for the one-bedroom units at the former US base land - 136 in total - from which the 18 most 'urgent cases' were given preference. It will bring the total of senior units under the Bermuda Housing Corporation to 82 (19 at Heydon trust, 23 at Purvis Park and 22 at Elizabeth Hills).

"What we have to keep a watch on is the growth of the population. There is a greater need for this kind of housing as people get older," said Bermuda Housing Trust chairman and Government MP Stanley Morton at the official opening of Ferguson Park last week.

To be eligible, seniors must be at least 65 and their needs are assessed by the Bermuda Housing Corporation. That the units are in the middle of other housing at Southside _ rentals and occupant owned _ is not a coincidence as the seniors there are encouraged to live very active, but independent lives.

"People need to get around other people of like kind and feel a part of other people," said Mr. Morton. "This is not put here accidentally, it was put here because they are in a community of people. They can interact with other people and won't feel isolated."

The neighbourhood is near the bus line, has a bowling alley nearby and a church, while there are also plans to open a grocery store there as well.

"There is a common area here where they are encouraged to mingle and interact," said Mr. Morton.

Similar housing projects are being built in the United States and Canada in three categories, independent, assistance and nursing. A group headed by Mr. Morton, Housing Minister Nelson Bascome and Dr. John Cann and including two architects from Works and Engineering went to Canada last year and visited several sites that cared for the elderly.

The need for such housing has long been identified here.

"There are some 136 applications in at the Bermuda Housing Corporation who is administering the day to day operation for the housing," explained the chairman.

"Eighteen is not the limit and it was not our intention to cut it off at this point. I can tell you right now we have two acres given to the Government at Morgan's Point near the boundary of Rockaway for more housing."

The homes are built on 1.8 acres, and rent 'will be no greater than $650 a month', Mr. Morton assured. Construction began on them last September.

"We have people at the department who are responsible for maintenance, they visit the site on an ongoing basis and are responsible for that site. Here, every unit has a fridge and washer and the only thing we don't have is a dryer but we are working on that. Some of the units will have clothes lines."