Upset by the plight of the homeless and badly housed, a delegation from the Bermuda Counsellors Association presented concerns to Housing Minister Ashfield DeVent yesterday.

The group recently toured Hamilton before dawn one Sunday and found 28 people sleeping rough.

They are now organising a petition to lobby for action after proclaiming adequate housing was a right and should not come at the cost of destroying relationships in a bid to get the necessary cash.

The counsellors are increasingly coming across strains caused by overcrowding which spilled over into sexual abuse as well as violence both inside and outside the home.

On the steps of the House of Assembly Bermuda Counsellors Association chairwoman Gwendolyn Creary urged landlords to keep rents affordable and tenants to pay their way.

She said called on Government to cap housing costs and to place housing on the front burner.

Mr. DeVent said housing was a problem which couldn?t just be solved by Government and everyone had to play a part.

He urged those with empty and derelict properties to hook up with Government to get them occupied.