Residents of the Leopards Club Plaza were angry that Bermuda Housing Corporation gave them a few hours notice to leave the property and move into the Pembroke Rest Home.

A BHC truck arrived at the Pembroke property at 10 yesterday morning and the 18 residents were told they were being moved to the former Pembroke Rest Home. The surprise announcement caused shock among the residents and emotions ran high. Some broke into tears when they saw their new residence while others screamed at BHC officials.

At one point Police arrived on the scene and asked the media to leave the private property.

The residents have been living in the building, owned by the Leopards’ Club, since a fire rendered it inhabitable in January.

Their tenancy contracts expired on March first but the Bermuda Housing Corporation, which had taken over some of the administration of the building , said they could stay there until alternative accommodation was found.

Residents expressed concern about the move yesterday as the Pembroke Rest Home was also deemed inhabitable in February.

At the time a Government spokesperson said: “The Government, along with the Pembroke Parish Council have attempted to address those challenges by carrying out renovations of all kinds whilst the clients have been in residence. The Government decided to close the premises so that it can undergo major renovations.”

A mother-of-two said she was particularly concerned about the move because there were no locks on the doors or cooking facilities and her children were being split up.

She said: “They gave us no warning they just showed up today and told us to pack our things immediately. They told us we have to pack everything up and be out of here today.

“My son is at school and will come home and everything will be gone. I am worried because there are no locks on the doors so it’s not safe. They are also putting my son who is 13, in another room with a neighbour’s son who is 3. When I told the BHC staff I was worried and had some concerns they told me I could leave if I wanted to.

“This isn’t right, the way they are treating us. I feel like an animal just being herded into another area.

“I haven’t done anything wrong. All I did was not be born rich. I finished high school, have a job and am raising my kids yet I am being treated like a criminal”

She said the residents had not been given any information about the move and arrived at Pembroke Rest Home to find rooms filled with the former resident’s belonging.

Another woman complained that the rest home had not been cleaned. She said: “I got there and they pointed me to a room that still had sheets on the bed and smelt like old people. There are no baths just showers and I can’t cook for my kids anywhere.

“We can’t even lock up our rooms. How are we supposed to feel safe?”

A young mother of one was visibly upset after being told she would not be able to live with her boyfriend, the father of her child.

She said: “They can’t do this. We have been together for seven years and have a child together and they are telling me I can’t live with him if I move into the Pembroke Rest Home. Why should my daughter have to live with out her daddy?

“They want us to pay $150 a week for a room there and now they are telling us we can’t share the same room so we will actually have to pay $300 a week.

“That’s a lot of money to live in a communal house with no locks and no cooking facilities.”

The women all said that they were concerned with the direction Bermuda was heading, with affordable housing out of the reach for many young or single parent families.

A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Housing did not respond to questions about the move, or how habitable the Pembroke Rest Home was.

Speaking in the Senate yesterday Housing Minister David Burch said he was pleased to announce the residents had been moved today to the Pembroke Rest Home. He also said the Government would only help people who wanted assistance: “If you are asking for help, and we are offering that help, when you say no, you are on your own. Just as people at Leopards’ Club, all of whom have been moved except for one. You can do what you want. It’s called go and do what you want.

“You can’t expect this Government will empower and support people who will say I’m not playing by your rules.

Opposition Sen. Kim Swan said he was pleased to hear that the residents had been moved to a new location.