Government plans for new housing projects could come crashing down because of a lack of cash.

The news that required funding for 100 new homes is not currently available came after persistent questioning from Shadow Finance Minister Dr. Grant Gibbons during the Budget debate on the Health Ministry yesterday.

The Shadow Finance Minister was supported by Shadow Health Minister Kim Young, who blasted the Government for failing to keep an election promise to combat the housing problem.

Dr. Gibbons queried where money for listed projects would be coming from saying he saw no budget allocations to cover the costs.

"We haven't seen how the units are going to be financed,'' he said. "Is the financing in place for the 100 units? If so where is it coming from? If the financing is not in place this whole conversation is just academic ,'' he said.

Health Minister Nelson Bascome was unable to point to the source of the funds.

"The units will cost $107,000 each and for financing we are looking at private institutions,'' he said.

"We need to see more people housed,'' said Shadow Minister Kim Young, "We left a terrific housing plan which this Government picked up, but we still don't see any houses built. If we had been voted in, we would have had those homes built by now,'' she claimed.

"The Minister said they were going to build 100 homes, 50 by June, and the Young Progressives had talked about building Habitat homes, but we haven't seen anything yet.'' Ms Young also asked Mr. Bascome to be specific and quantify how many derelict buildings have been renovated, how many private sector rentals Government has been able to secure, how many new homes have been built and what happened to the Bermuda Housing Corporation Trust project for 20 units at Southside.

The Minister avoided specifics but revealed that some construction is underway.

"The Bermuda Housing corporation has begun the project to rebuild 100 new affordable rental homes for its target group of tenants,'' he said.

"Excavation of sites is well underway. The homes will be distributed widely across the Island with the exception of two sites which are expected to comprise 20 and 16 homes respectively.

"Other developments will be small averaging four homes per site,'' he added.

See Page 4 for more Budget coverage Nelson Bascome