The announcement yesterday of the budget for the Community and Cultural Development Ministry revealed some eye-opening facts.Money allocated to the Bermuda Housing Corporation increased 49 percent, to continue funding the HUSTLE truck initiative and to pay off interest payments for the Grand Atlantic Housing Development.Taxpayers are continuing to fund a housing white elephant. Few units have been sold in a development that has contributed to a glut in the condo market, helping to drive prices down.Then there is the increased grant allocation of $1.25 million to the National Sports Centre to contribute to operational expenses: $955,000 is for expenses associated with the new Aquatics Centre. Needed for the Island Games, it seems the swimming pool is going to cost the taxpayer a lot of money in the future.Next is the fact that more people than ever — 1,750 — are now registered with the Financial Assistance Programme, with 50 percent of those being classed as able-bodied unemployed.So we have: more money to pay for condos no one is buying and more money to pay for a swimming pool, yet more people are claiming financial assistance and the Ministry has suffered an overall budget cut.Is there something missing here?Clearly, this situation has been inherited by the present Government, however as The Royal Gazette has consistently stated, there needs to be a robust, well-funded social strategy.Charities and community organisations cannot continue to shoulder the burden and whilst there is no desire for a nanny state, there is an increased need to support those who are suffering hardships and who could easily slip into crime.An increase in police will help imprison people, but police cannot solve the causes of crime. Government is concentrating on reducing the debt and creating jobs, which in the long-run will be the best answer.But it seems tragic that in the short-term there appears to be no money available to invest in new or more widespread community programmes.As a footnote, why is the Minister using the phrase ‘do more with less’? That was the PLP slogan that never lived up to its billing.— What do you think? E-mail acting Editor Jeremy Deacon, jdeacon@royalagazette.com— Follow me on Twitter https://twitter.com/jeremydeacon1