A woman who is desperate to find a permanent home for her family is afraid that she and her teenage son will end up living on the streets if her search remains fruitless.

Mother-of-two Jackie Fubler said she did not intend to bring any media attention to her plight but felt it was a last resort.

"I've been on the emergency waiting list at Bermuda Housing Corporation (BHC) since December but nothing has happened and I really need a home for my family," Mrs. Fubler said.

Mrs. Fubler explained to The Royal Gazette how she got into her dismal situation.

"I was in a marriage that was full of physical and substance abuse. I could not take in any more so I had to leave and there was no way that I was leaving my children there."

She said she decided to face the risk of her family being separated. Her son, who is 14, went to live with a friend, while her 22-year-old daughter moved to Pembroke. Mrs. Fubler is living in St. George's.

"Although I was placed on the emergency list in December, I had gone to Housing before then," she said.

"They keep on saying that I'm going to to be helped, but nothing has happened and it's been almost a year."

While she admitted she was disappointed with an apartment not being found for her yet, she insisted that she was not slamming the BHC.

"If they don't have it, they can not give it," she reasoned.

And she said she understood that it may be a while before anything becomes available, especially after having attended a meeting where she was told that three families were definitely ahead of her because their landlords were pulling out of BHC contracts.

"But I am desperate. I need to provide a stable home for my son," she said.

Mrs. Fubler said that the situation was having a detrimental effect on her son.

"His grades are already slipping," she said. "He used to have B's and now he's failing in some of his subjects. I don't want him to become another statistic."

She said she has shown his report cards to the BHC so they could see how the situation has affected him.

And while she said her son had always been a quiet person, her son was becoming increasingly withdrawn.

Right now, she said, he is living from pillar to post and while she is thankful that she has friends who have been willing to take him in, she knows that it will only be a matter of time before their generosity runs out.

"I don't have much family and there's only so much friends can do," she said.

The boy's father is not considered an outlet for help because he plays no role in his son's life.

Mrs. Fubler said she was becoming increasingly upset by her situation and has stayed in constant contact with the BHC.

"I call weekly. I even called Minister (Nelson) Bascome, but he was off the Island at the time."

"What else can I do?" she asked.

"I work hard and can provide letters of references from my job.

"I'm willing to take a studio and sleep on the floor," she said. "All I need is to make a home for my son."

Her son must leave his present home by today as the family friend could only accommodate him for two weeks. For reasons Mrs. Fubler would not disclose, her son cannot live with her.

"But if he becomes homeless, I will be right out there with him," he said. "I'm not asking for pity. I'm just asking for help."

And help is exactly what the BHC is trying to give, according to the corporation's acting general manager Deborah Blakeney.

"I do understand Mrs. Fubler's frustration, and she shares this frustration with a number of other clients who remain on our list," Ms Blakeney said yesterday.

While Ms Blakeney was adamant the BHC was doing all that it could to help Mrs. Fubler and its other clients, she said it was difficult finding affordable housing on the Island.

"I am appealing to the public to assist us in our very important role to provide affordable housing to Bermudians.

"I would encourage them to call us if any premises are available," she said.