Low income families will march on Cabinet next week as they call on Government to provide them with affordable housing.

Twelve families who run the Families United In Action group are rallying hundreds of supporters to participate in the march on Tuesday as they demand action be taken by Government to assist families struggling to get above the poverty line.

The march, scheduled for this week was rescheduled due to the power outages.

But despite the cancellation organiser Terrie Bascome said more people are expected out than before as they demand Government provide a long term strategy to help parents who need an affordable place to raise their family.

"It's been seven years and no one has said lets march on Parliament and let our voices be heard. They have promised us things and now we want to know where they stand, we want to give them a chance but we also want to know what they are working on."

She said she hopes legislators will come out of the building and hear their message.

"We want them to come out, there is nothing to hide, we want to hear their long term plan. If they can get 20 families housed by September we will be happy and we will thank them, but we will not let them sit there and not let anything happen."

And in the world's third richest country, Ms Bascome said no one should be without a decent home, particularly since there are derelict homes Island wide which could be transformed into affordable housing properties.

Organisers are also calling for widespread reform in the way that banks handle mortgages for home owners and on Government's use of derelict homes and undeveloped land.

Ms Bascome and her co-organiser Charlita Campbell said it is unacceptable that families are expected to pay between 60-80 percent of their income on housing, and are locked out of home ownership.

"We feel the issue has been mishandled and not prioritised by the Government, and it therefore requires people to voice their recommendations and demand action which is both effective and sustainable," said Ms Bascome.

Ms Campbell and Ms Bascome told The Royal Gazette that housing costs must be decreased by extending rent controls to properties that accommodate low income tenants and enforcing existing rent control legislation in addition to get rid of the practice of landlords renting rooms out to tenants for $400 a week or more.

They also suggest creation of rent packages that include utility and rent to help cut costs.

Government must also address the practice by many landlords of refusing to rent to single mothers in favour of expatriate workers, and struggling young mothers who are evicted and do not have a current employers should be treated fairly and should not be evicted by the Bermuda Housing Corporation.

"Every day families are destroyed in Bermuda, we are financially stressed out, we are struggling to meet the costs of living, there are marriages which end in divorce in Bermuda because of this issue," said Ms Campbell.

Children are also suffering as their parents struggle to meet the costs of an overheated market, said Ms Campbell, as illustrated by rental prices in newspaper adds.

"You call up and you think that they are going to change the price or that they won't be opposed to renting to someone with children, but that is not the case. Children can't be loved without a home."

To participate in the march meet on Tuesday, July 19 at 11.30am at Alboy's Point. To contact Terrie Bascome call 295-1150