The lack of affordable housing in Bermuda is approaching a crisis point, a campaigner for children's rights has warned.

And Shelagh Cooper said something must be done to tackle the Island's growing unemployment -- particularly for young black men -- before the fabric of society ripped apart.

Ms. Cooper was speaking at a meeting to address links between a feeling of alienation and violence in Bermuda, held at Hamilton's Astwood Hall on Tuesday.

More than 50 attended the evening meeting, organised by unity advocacy group Beyond Barriers.

Ms Cooper warned that a serious effort to improve opportunity could cost the rest of the community money.

She said: "Most of what we enjoy exists because of a growing and substantial underclass.

"It's that section of the population which is expressing themselves in a violent way or feel alienation from the structure.

"The real fear in not wanting to address the existence of an underclass is that it will affect your own economic survival. We need to stop and ask where we are really headed.'' Teacher and volunteer community worker Lou Matthews said he became involved in community work because he recognised tension was building because of economic and social circumstances among young black men.

He added: "It's our firm belief it's still not finished. There is a lot of violence which is going to come out.

"We feel young black males are saying something and we need to get in touch with these things.'' He added young black men were suspended from schools or jailed in disproportionate numbers.

And Mr. Matthews said: "Some would argue that there is more violence and there are more people taking to wall sitting because of feelings of alienation.

"What is needed is a sense of hope -- it's obvious that young black males don't feel Bermuda is their Country.

He added that people say there are no ghettos in Bermuda -- but he said that many young black men are confined to particular areas because of economic circumstances and that a ghetto mentality had arisen.

Mr. Matthews said: "Not every young black man will vent his feelings through violence. But there are young men who are saying `we've had enough' and they will vent their feelings through violence.'' And he called for mentoring programmes to be introduced and for non-establishment mediators to be introduced to settle disputes between rival groups before disagreements erupt into violence.

Rastafarian Brian Cardell, a mature student and graduate of Bermuda College, said that violence was a symptom of a larger problem and that conflict was a conditioned response to resolving situations.

He added: "I don't think that anyone can deny we live in a very violent time -- mentally, physically and spiritually.'' And he pointed out children were fed a diet of violence -- often through TV.

But he said violence could not be ended simply by Government passing laws.

Mr. Cardell said: "In my opinion, politics is full of that same type of one party against another, one winner and one loser -- that's part of the problem.

"The only way we can stop violence is to make an individual effort in our daily lives -- don't use violent means to get a quick fix.

"A quick fix is a band aid that will burst and things will just get worse.'' Retired teacher Veronica Ross -- who also tutored in the prison system -- said Bermudian society had been disintegrating since the end of the Second World War.

She said: "Things have progressively worsened since we became enamoured of wealth without realising what this absolute greed has done to us.

"There was a sense of belonging to this place and it's important we care about people who are alienated.

"If we don't care about them we are not in any way safe in our enclaves -- recent events have proved that.''