The Ruth Seaton James auditorium was filled with tears, cheers and joy on Friday evening when 98 people won the right to buy cut-price homes in the Bermuda Homes for People lottery.

Three hundred people packed the hall to find out if they were the lucky winners of the Harbourside Village homes. The homes, which have an approximate $673,000 market value, are being sold to the lucky winners for $198,000.

Though the project has been through delays, near insolvency and the resignation of the man behind its concept, Cliff Schorer, Friday night was nothing but success.

Housing Minister Ashfield DeVent was on hand to read the winning numbers, though he shared his duties with fellow MPs Renee Webb and Wayne Perinchief.

The night began with MC Richard Scott telling the audience the Bermuda Housing Corporation has “moved out of anything involved in scandal and towards decency and order”.

Patricia McCarter was the first winner of the evening, when she heard her name she started jumping and screaming “hallelujah”. She danced her way to the stage giving everyone involved with BHP a big hug.

She said the four bedroom home would be the best birthday present for her daughter Zalikah who turned 12 on Friday.

Zalikah said she was excited to have her own home and looked forward to moving to St. David's.

Mrs. McCarter was overwhelmed by her good luck: “It came from God and I am so thankful, it's been a long time coming. All I can do is give thanks and praise.”

She laughed when she told The Royal Gazette she should have listened to her sister who had dreamed that Patricia would be the first lottery winner.

Other winners were calm and stunned, when Zuri Samuels' number was called she looked at her two friends and quietly uttered “that's me”.

Kim Adair was doubly lucky on Friday, her boyfriend proposed and she was selected a winner for one of the three bedroom houses.

The room was buzzing with goodwill with many people introducing themselves to other winners.

The community feeling was already building with one lady telling her new neighbour: “You know I lived in St. David's for three years and it's really not that far away.”

Melody Asendido told The Royal Gazette she was excited to move into her new home because she had already met so many wonderful people that evening.

“I'm going to have a nice neighbourhood and I'm just so excited for everyone,” she said.

Applicants for the two bedroom homes were overjoyed when they were told 93 percent of them would walk away with a home.

Even those who walked away from the lottery without a home were swept up by the positive atmosphere the night had.

Shirley Simons was the eighth alternate for one of the four bedroom units, which means seven people's circumstances will have to change in order for her to move into Harbourside Village.

She admitted she was disappointed but remained hopeful and upbeat.

“I know that the Lord has something else in store for me,” she said. “I will have my own home one day.”

Another woman who was the eleventh alternate for a three bedroom house ran up to the stage shouting, “I'm getting a home somehow!”

But it seemed the the hardest hit were the children of families not chosen.

One young mother tried to explain what an alternate was when her daughter asked “So we still don't have a home?”

Despite some disappointed hopeful homeowners, the event ended on a positive note.

“This is not the end, this is the beginning,” Premier Alex Scott told those people who did not secure a home.

“We're gonna roll up our sleeves and make other Bermudians successful. All we need is your support.”

Housing Minister Ashfield DeVent was also impressed by the eventful evening, he said nights like Friday remind him of why he is a politician.

“It is clear by the amount of people here and their reactions that this is needed,” he said and he asked St. David's residents to open their arms and welcome their new neighbours.

The housing project is expected to be finished by April 7, 2007, already 37 families have placed deposits on the houses which will be sold at market value.