Health and Social Services Minister Nelson Bascome yesterday reaffirmed Government's commitment to solving the problem of Bermuda's lack of affordable housing.

"We do have a plan and we have been moving forward,'' he said, "but like Rome, a house is not built in a day.'' Mr. Bascome's speech to Hamilton Rotarians at their weekly luncheon was punctuated by descriptions of the various programmes that the Bermuda Housing Corporation has implemented to try and provide for the housing needs of every Bermudian in the 21st century.

But before going into the intricacies of the solution, the Minister made sure to outline just how much of a problem the housing issue is seen as by members of the public.

"Housing remains the topic of interest in our community,'' Mr. Bascome said, "and it can be placed in the top three when Bermudians rank issues that need to be addressed.'' Noting that the heart of the problem rests around the question of affordability, he said: "Housing is a complex matter in many countries and Bermuda is not an exception.'' Mr. Bascome noted a main initiative aimed at tackling the "complex matter'' was the Southside development project, in which 26 of the Bermuda Land Development Company's mortgage properties in St. David's were dedicated by Government for rental property.

"The new general manager of the BHC, Mr. Raymonde Dill, successfully completed negotiations and work started on the units last September,'' he said.

"To date 18 of them are now occupied and the remainder will be occupied by February 2000.'' Mr. Bascome added that, this year, the BHC will increase its housing stock by 450 units, coming through three separate programmes.

"The first one, called 100 Homes, is made up of sites varying in size from four to 20 units and are located in parishes across the Island.

Pointing out that these contracts would be awarded to a small number of contractors "employing a combination of conventional and system building methods'', Mr. Bascome said: "This approach will give us speed of development with close attention to the Bermuda style.'' Another of the BHC's projects aims at turning vacant and derelict buildings into habitable properties.

"This is a joint venture with property owners,'' the Minister said, "and thus far, 308 units have been investigated, 65 contracts have been negotiated, and seven houses have been completed.'' The final programme involves the issue of private sector rental.

Mr. Bascome said: "As the private sector continues to develop the BHC will work to obtain units from this sector and also continue helping landlords by becoming the tenant, guaranteeing rent and providing maintenance for the property.'' He also noted "the development of social and human services'' as "a very important part of our programme''.

"We are endeavouring to change behaviour patterns and educate several of our clients,'' Mr. Bascome said.

"This challenge is being met with a work programme for youth who are listed as household members, but have no income and also by developments in the areas of cash management, parenting and home care skills.'' He also pointed out that the BHC offers 90 percent financing for first time home owners.

"We are trying to move back to the time when the ownership of a home was more prestigious than owning a car,'' Mr. Bascome said. "We wish to develop the motto -- forego a car and own a home -- in the mind set of Bermudians.'' And other areas Mr. Bascome touched on included the need for developing a system for finding single-room occupancy dwellings and encouraging better relationships between "problem tenants'' and "reluctant landlords''.

He added: "Our homeless population is being cared for by the Salvation Army on Parson's Road. We will be in talks with them on upgrading their facilities.'' Mr. Bascome also noted that there were 115 applicants on the BHC's urgent housing list, with the biggest demand being for two-bedroom units.

"I must point out that people are depending more on Government for their housing,'' he said, "and whenever there is a talk like today, our phones will be busy tomorrow.'' GOVERNMENT GVT HOUSING HSG