in their fight with Government.

The People's Coalition for Affordable Housing -- protesting against evictions and higher rents -- want Government to develop a human rights policy to stop landlords refusing to take in families.

They are also calling for all new Bermuda housing developments to include an allocation of "affordable'' homes.

And they are urging Ministers to rethink a means-testing policy which combines family income with benefits like child support before deciding if a tenant can be eligible for housing assistance.

The group, which demonstrated in Hamilton on Friday, slammed Housing Minister C.V. (Jim) Woolridge for being "truly not in touch with the problem''.

They claimed Mr. Woolridge did not know evictions were taking place and showed "a lack of empathy and understanding of the crisis''.

Mr. Woolridge, who was unavailable for comment last night, was also criticised in Parliament on Friday night by Shadow Tourism Minister David Allen because he "did not even know people were being evicted''.

One tenant was understood to have produced her eviction notice on TV after Mr.

Woolridge said he was unaware of people were being booted out of homes.

Former Housing Minister Quinton Edness defended Mr. Woolridge last night and said he would produce a series of "dramatic initiatives'' to help tenants.

Mr. Edness said: "Mr. Woolridge would not have known about evictions as they had not been brought to his attention at the time he was asked the question.

"He is extremely concerned about the housing problem and has produced a number of dramatic initiatives which should be made public within the next week or so.

"We know we have to take some fairly quick action to help these people and that is exactly what we will be doing.'' But PCAH chairperson Rosemarie Pedro said: "The people who belong to this group have jobs, they work hard and many of them have two jobs -- but still cannot compete with the rents that are being demanded on the open market.

"One reason attributing to this fact is the very reason the Minister C.V.

Woolridge seems oblivious to.

"Although Minister Woolridge was an ambassador for tourism, he obviously shows a lack of empathy and understanding of the crisis which these families are faced with.

"Suggesting that the housing assistance programme has not been denied to families with these needs shows that he truly is not in touch with the problem that exists.'' She said child support was weighed into income in means tests, adding: "I feel child support should be for the maintenance of the child, not part of your annual salary income.

"We would like the Government to look again at their formula for means-testing for the housing assistance programme.

Tenants seek rights "We must stop taking from these children.'' She said PCAH members wanted to see new housing developments like Morgan's Point or Ships Hill include a set allocation of "affordable'' homes.

And Ms Pedro said landlords should be stopped from advertising their properties if they refused to rent to families with children, claiming a new law could be enforced by a human rights policy.

She added that she was trying to contact Premier Pamela Gordon to push for more money for the housing budget and the "working poor''.

"The new Budget claims to address families,'' she added. "We don't see anything in there for families.

"As of yet, the Premier has not returned my call to discuss these issues but I am trusting that she will follow through with her campaign promise of acknowledging the family unit and its well being.''