Government has been told to "get real'' with its latest promises of easing the current affordable housing shortage.

People's Coalition for Affordable Housing (PCAH) chair Rosemarie Pedro said Government needed a "reality check'' after the way it had handled the issues of Southside housing units and affordable day care.

Although she had praise for Premier Pamela Gordon's recent promises to revitalise derelict crack houses and provide adequate day care facilities, Ms Pedro questioned why the effort was so belated.

"The Premier's ideas are necessary ones, but it's interesting that it's taken more than a year and an election for the issue to come to the forefront.

"Our Premier has just got to get real. The fact that she's come out (with aggressive promises) the way she has leaves her open to these sort of concerns.'' Ms Pedro turned to the controversial issue of Southside housing units and noted that a map is now available showing how the land is being utilised.

She suggested Government and the Bermuda Land Development Corporation (BLDC) were long overdue in deciding the fate of the houses since at least 50 people in Bermuda were currently without housing.

And citing Bermuda's 1998-99 revenues of $437 million dollars -- $7 million of which were set aside for the Base lands properties -- she stated: "Bermuda is not a poor country, it's just one that utilises it's money poorly.'' "With all the money-making we're doing, we're definitely not progressing.'' Ms Pedro said Government's hands-off approach to controlling Base land properties was an attempt to pass the buck.

She quoted the 1996 Base Lands Development Act which says the Finance Minister may give direction to the BLDC if it is within public interest to do so.

Ms Pedro said Government needed to be reminded of the large percentage of Bermudians who are in support of having the base lands utilised as affordable housing units.

"Housing is a basic need. How productive can people be if they're homeless?'' Ms Pedro asked. "The housing crisis is not just going to affect the people packed in like rats ... it will also leak into other areas.'' She added that she was very concerned by suggestions that the land set aside for seniors was going to be monopolised by upper class residents only.

She said: "I'm hoping it doesn't become another Mayflower seniors residence.

"Equal opportunity needs to be given to seniors whose entire working lives have been spent contributing to the Island. The seniors chosen should be fairly reflective of the public at large.''