Numbers on housing waiting list have soared — Opposition
There are more than 583 people on the housing waiting list, Government revealed yesterday, with 287 on the emergency list, 256 on the urgent list and 40 on the critical list.
Opposition MPs hit out at the figures, which were revealed during yesterday’s budget debate on housing, claiming that the total had soared in the past few years.
However, Works and Engineering Minister Dennis Lister said Government had more than doubled the amount of units available through Bermuda Housing Corporation (BHC).
The Minister said there were 1,850 people in BHC managed housing, and that since 1999 the units under its control had increased from 350 units to 585.
Mr. Lister, who read the brief because Housing Minister David Burch sits in the Senate, said: “We have doubled the stock of housing units available for the public to be housed in from what was there previously under BHC.”
The Opposition argued Government had merely doubled the amount of properties it managed without necessarily increasing the amount of housing available on the Island.
Responding to the housing list figures, Shadow Works and Engineering MP Jon Brunson>said: “That’s 583 people that are in dire need. The people of Bermuda have been crying out for support.”
Mr. Brunson cited last year’s closure of the Canadian Hotel as an example of Government’s “reactionary” behaviour to emergency housing needs.
Most of the venue’s 60 residents were moved into an emergency house facility at Southside about a month after it was announced the hotel would shut.
“It’s clear that this Government is reactionary to the issue,” said Mr. Brunson. “We knew for some time that the issue of the Canadian Hotel was going to finally come to an end, yet only at the eleventh hour, when the rental agreement was going to be cancelled, did this Government act.
“The people knew they had to leave, and there was no assistance. The assistance came at the outcry from the people.”
Opposition Leader Wayne Furbert said Government had “failed the people of Bermuda when it comes to housing”.
Mr. Furbert said: “They have failed the people for the last nine years and as soon as the PLP recognises this, as they have in education, the country will be better for off.”
He said that eight or nine years ago, just 61 people were on the housing list.
Mr. Lister had said the programme to handle apartments owned by seniors had sparked a great response with 20 units offered to BHC to manage and more inquiries flooding in.
And he said BHC had an aggressive programme to renovate properties and that annual inspections had changed to twice-yearly visits to identify problems early.
Mr. Lister listed a string of projects which should help the affordable homes crisis, including nearly 100 low-cost homes being built at Harbourside Village, available for $199,000 to members of the public who won a Government lottery last year.
He pledged that work would start this year to convert affordable homes in a development in Ewing Street, Hamilton.
Responding, Mr. Brunson complained these projects had been mentioned before and called for progress on them to be made quickly.
He accused the Government of being “irresponsible” for not delivering affordable homes sooner.
“We all know this issue of housing is a critical issue that’s facing Bermuda,” he said.
“The sense that I got when I listened was: ‘Play it again Sam.’
“This Government has been in power for more than eight years ... I reflect back to eight years ago when people had hope that the Government was going to deliver on its promises.
“This issue of housing is not my issue, it’s the people’s issue, the people who are struggling and have nowhere else to go.”
PLP MB>Glenn Blakeney praised Government for the projects underway and applauded Finance Minister Paula Cox for a “prudent and relevant” budget. “I think everyone in this country would agree we are challenged, but we are still ahead of the pack,” he said.
He described projects being worked on or completed - such as 38 homes in Perimeter Lane, and recently opened schemes at Anchorage Villas and Butterfield Lane - as “tangible, not just promises”.
He referred to schemes at Harbourside View and Ireland Island as “wonderful initiatives” that will “bring families together”.
Mr Brunson queried why just two posts in the Ministry of Public Safety and Housing required a combined salary level of $565,000.
Mr. Lister explained that although there were two established posts — that of a Permanent Secretary and an administration assistant — the money also funded a further four posts, including people on boards such as the Parole Board and the Treatment of Offenders Board. And Opposition Legislative Reform spokesman John Barritt probed for answers on what $362,000 budgeted for professional services went on.
“He should come here with the facts.”
Mr. Lister later explained that, of the professional services cash, $100,000 went to local services, $99,000 to overseas services and $163,000 was spent on board and committee fees.
The Opposition also queried claims that Government was trying to get 90 percent of the post to people within four days.
Mr. Barritt said it seemed those waiting for the other ten percent were constantly lodging complaints and he indicated the Post Office was falling behind with timely deliveries.
“It’s important we get to grips with it when you look at the amount of money that is spent on the Post Office.”
He said $57 million was spent and eight million came back in revenue but people were tired of waiting so long for their letters.
The debate also touched on areas in the Public Safety portfolio. Progressive Labour Party backbencher George Scott commended Government for amalgamating the Island’s three fire services.
Mr. Scott, who has a background in that area, said with three services there was no clear point of command and control. And he called on the fire service to have more input in inspecting the many multilevel buildings springing up.
