Affordable housing was one the key areas the PLP targeted in their 1998 election manifesto and three years into their term the Government has produced tangible results on the issue - houses.

The Premier recently pointed out during a radio interview that Government has put 96 housing units on the market since taking power.

New units for seniors have been built at Southside, derelict houses have been reconverted for use and building projects are underway in Pembroke, Warwick, and St. David's.

The Bermuda Housing Corporation (BHC) and Minister of Health Nelson Bascome have also made strides to address the issue of landlords who have empty housing units.

In August, Mr. Bascome told The Royal Gazette that based on data from the most recent census there are 1,400 empty units on the Island.

These units may sit empty because landlords have experienced problems with tenants in the past or simply do not want to deal with the hassles of renting out their space.

Government developed a programme where BHC would fulfil the role of the tenant and guarantee that the landlord receives their rent in a timely manner. In turn BHC collects the money from people they place in the units.

This programme is hoped to open up many units more units this year on an Island where one-bedroom apartments are renting for $2,000 per month and up.

While new units have been created, the news is not all good on housing.

The number of people on BHC's emergency housing list in August was roughly 125 - practically unchanged from when the PLP took office in 1998.

As quicklu as BHC finds homes for those on the list, more people join the list, the Minister has said.

Despite the recession, rents have yet to fall, meaning more and more people may find themselves in crisis as the economy worsens.

Yesterday, Opposition leader Dr. Grant Gibbons told The Royal Gazette that housing was one of the issues which have not been addressed in a "meaningful and thorough way" during the PLP's tenure.

"Bermudians who were crying out for housing three years ago are still crying out," he said.

Rosemary Pedro of the People's Coalition for Affordable Housing (PCAH) said even her organisation believes Government is working sincerely to address the housing crisis.

"There's always more to be done," Ms Pedro told The Royal Gazette last night. "But the PLP has certainly kept most of their platform promises."

Those promises included reviewing the stock of available housing on the baselands, considering incentives for private owners to rehabilitate derelict housing, providing affordable housing to young families and encouraging and aiding as many Bermudians as possible to become homeowners.

In each of these areas the PLP government has made progress in the past three years, but other promises have yet to materialise.

In the election manifesto the party said it would review the Government Housing Allowance Programme to ensure that it supplements rents which exceed one quarter of monthly income and provide incentives for developers to invest in housing for lower and middle income families - these commitments have yet to be conquered.

Similarly, homelessness continues to plague Bermuda. "There should be no homelessness in a society as affluent as Bermuda," read the manifesto, but this year the Salvation Army reported their shelter is overbrimming with people, many of whom treat the temporary shelter as a permanent home.

Mr. Bascome has pointed out in past interviews that many of Bermuda's homeless suffer from mental health issues or drug problems or simply chose a nomadic lifestyle, but the problem still affects some 120 people.

Bermuda clearly is still struggling with housing issues.

Ms Pedro of PCAH said the problem is much bigger than Government can be expected to deal with alone.

"Most development and building going on right now is by BHC," she said. "But the problem is really a community problem and in these tough economic times everyone is going to have to pitch in and try and help out.

"Government is working hard trying to the best they can but they can not do it alone."