A young mother who is desperate to flee her abusive home last night appealed to landlords on the Island to offer her a new place to stay with her children.

The woman, who cannot be identified, said she had looked at dozens of vacant apartments since November last year, but had found almost every landlord unreceptive to her youngsters.

The woman, a corporate administrator, said money was not an issue and she even had the cash to pay two months' rent up front, but had found no landlord willing to let their property to a single mother.

She said: "I'm in an abusive marriage and have been trying to leave for some time, but nobody will take me when they find out I have children.

"I have been told that I could go to the Physical Abuse Centre's shelter, but I really do not want to take my children there. I want something stable for them.

"I went to Social Services for help after the physical abuse started, and they gave me a deadline to be out of the house by August 5. If I didn't, the children would be taken into foster care.

"As the house is owned by my husband's family, it is me who has to leave.

"I have been from one end of the Island to the other searching for somewhere to live, but have failed each time.

"We are desperate now and are appealing for someone to help."

The mother said her children were only young, and so would take up little space, and were very well behaved.

She said although a one or two-bedroom apartment would be ideal, she would be quite happy to rent a large studio, and said she did not mind which area of the Island she lived in, provided the rent was around the $1,200 a month mark

The mother said she had left her marital home by the Social Services' deadline and was staying temporarily with her brother.

But, she said the apartment was very small and overcrowded, so it was only for the short-term.

And the mother said although she had many relatives, they all lived in small properties and so were unable to help for any length of time.

She said she had tried to make it work with her husband, but the abuse had continued, despite specialist counselling.

However, she said at no time were her children in danger as although her husband attacked her, he treated their children like "gold".

"Social Services said I had to sleep on a couch, if that was what it took, but I had leave, or I would lose my children," added the mother.

"There was no way I would ever be parted from my children - they are my life - so I knew I had to get out...

"I have been to Bermuda Housing Corporation and they have nothing for me, and I have tried to get hold of Housing Minister Nelson Bascome four times, but still haven't managed to speak to him.

"I really don't know what else to do. I have a good job, wonderful children and a stable life, but it would seem those things count for nothing. I would never have thought that being a single mother would ostracise me so much.

"Somebody, somewhere must be able to help me."

The Royal Gazette was last night unable to make contact with Mr. Bascome.

But Shadow Housing Minister Michael Dunkley called on landlords to at least give people a chance, especially women who were trying to flee abusive homes.

He said: "The number of women who are subjected to abusive husbands or boyfriends is startling, and the sad thing is that too often these women don't have anywhere else to go.

"The support services we have are very temporary, so these women end up going back to the abusive homes they tried to run from."

Mr. Dunkley said this was something Bermuda needed to look at. He said the Island should have facilities that were more than just temporary.

And he added: "I also know there are too many landlords who discriminate against tenants, whether they are single mums or families with children.

"In some ways, I have sympathy with landlords because some of them may have had bad experiences with some tenants in the past... and of course with the acute shortage of housing, landlords can pick and choose who they want.

"I am a landlord, so I see it from both sides, but I don't have much tolerance for landlords who don't give people a chance. Everyone deserves a chance. We have to help these people."

Mr. Dunkley urged the mother to call him, and offered to meet with her and speak on her behalf should any more vacant properties crop up.