mothers' pleas for help during impending evictions.

The Royal Gazette revealed last week that housing shortages had affected two single mothers -- one of whom was forced to move into a garage after being threatened with eviction.

Mother-of-two Pamela Simons and mother-of-four Marsha Butterfield criticised Housing Minister Wayne Furbert and the Bermuda Housing Corporation (BHC) for being unhelpful.

Mr. Furbert said he was concerned about Ms Simons' charge that he did not return her phone calls in the days prior to her threatened eviction.

"I make an effort to call everyone I can...from time to time, we may slip up, but I am trying my best.'' A BHC spokesperson said the facts as Ms Simons presented them were not "altogether accurate''.

"We have bent over backward to help this individual,'' he said. "Sometimes people in great need don't make it easy for people to help them.''