Housing trust faces challenges accommodating seniors
Up to 100 seniors are on a waiting list for Bermuda Housing Trust accommodation, the Deputy Premier told MPs today, as demand among older people for properties continues to rise.
Zane DeSilva highlighted challenges facing the organisation and also noted progress in its work as well as its “clean and unqualified audit” for fiscal year 2023-24.
The BHT was set up in 1965 to provide affordable rental accommodation for seniors who can live independently and has five properties across the island — Heydon Park, Dr Cann Park, Elizabeth Hill Park, Purvis Park and Ferguson Park.
About 200 people live in the units.
Mr DeSilva, who is also the Minister of Housing and Municipalities, said: “While the audited financial statements reflect a sound financial position, the trustees have requested that I also communicate their caution — this picture must be considered in context.
“Financial pressures loom large, and challenges persist in fulfilling their mandate to provide affordable, quality rental accommodation for Bermuda’s seniors.”
He noted that the island’s ageing population — with projections indicating that one in four residents will be aged 65 or older by next year — meant demand for senior housing was rising.
Mr DeSilva told the House of Assembly: “The trust maintains a waiting list of between 50 and 100 qualified applicants — applications, I note, are only accepted from individuals aged 65 and above.
“A second challenge lies in balancing priority placements for those in urgent need while maintaining the housing stock. This is no easy task.
“Even more difficult is the trust’s effort to continue its longstanding policy of not increasing rent for sitting tenants — regardless of the length of tenancy.
“In today’s climate of rising prices, this is no small achievement.
“Although this policy has largely been maintained, the trustees have, out of necessity, introduced marginal rent increases applicable only to new tenants.
“These increases are due to the mounting costs of maintaining an ageing housing inventory.
“Contractors for significant maintenance work are not always easily secured and scheduling must be carefully managed around the needs of elderly tenants.”
He said that progress included the completion of roof repairs at Dr Cann Park, the largest BHT property, where recaulking and sealing work is under way to address longstanding leak issues.
The public works ministry, as it was then, supported the work by providing private engineering resources to assist with oversight of the project.
Mr DeSilva said that the trust had formalised a part-time role into a full-time post.
“Ms Judy Knight, who for over a decade provided valuable support to tenants, has stepped down, and the position has been taken up by Ms Quayante Watson as the new rental agent,” he added.
The Deputy Premier, who thanked the BHT trustees, said: “It is important to note that the Bermuda Housing Trust currently receives no direct financial support from the Government.
“Nevertheless, last year, the Ministry of Public Works — together with the Bermuda Housing Corporation — provided invaluable support through architectural, engineering, project management and maintenance services, for which the trustees are deeply grateful.”
The BHT financials for year-end March 31, 2024, showed revenues of $1.96 million and expenses of $2.13 million, giving an annual deficit of $162,943.
They showed that the accumulated surplus from operations went from $10.7 million at the beginning of the year to $10.53 at the end.
A note to the report said that a contract to recaulk and paint Dr Cann Park was signed with Koba Industries for more than $400,000.
It added: “The services of an engineer have been provided by the Government to prepare a five-year maintenance plan/condition survey for Dr Cann Park.
“The report dated July 31, 2024 identifies the critical areas of infrastructure requiring remediation and estimates that expenditure to remediate and improve the infrastructure could cost as much as $2.3 million over the next five years.”
The note said that as at October 31, there were 16 vacant units at Dr Cann Park pending remediation and explained that the “safest course of action” was to remediate the unoccupied units as work proceeded, “bearing in mind that the tenants are seniors”.
It added: “The vacant units will be made available to new residents in 2025 as soon as the necessary work is completed.”
• To see the ministerial statement in full, see Related Media
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