The Women’s Resource Centre has launched a survey to help guide a campaign aimed at addressing housing insecurity on the island.

It said that in recent months the charity had received a “sharp increase” in the number of women seeking help because of the need for safe, adequate and affordable housing.

Juanae Crockwell, the WRC executive director, said: “We receive calls on a weekly, sometimes daily basis from women who are struggling to find affordable housing for themselves and their children.

“So far in 2024, 98 women have contacted us for help with securing housing, and this represents just a small fraction of the women in Bermuda who are facing this crisis.”

The charity said in a statement that women were disproportionally affected by housing security because they often bear the sole responsibility for accommodating their children, and the lack of affordable housing can exacerbate other issues like domestic abuse.

It said: “The WRC's Transformational Living Centre for Families was established by WRC to address the housing needs of single mothers and their children.

“Since March 2024, the TLC have had 42 women reach out for emergency housing for themselves and their children and a further 21 looking for a more affordable housing option.

“With the capacity to accommodate only nine families, the TLC is unable to meet the overwhelming demand for housing assistance.”

The charity launched an advocacy campaign in July intended to raise awareness of issues linked with housing security, including the lack of affordable housing and its impact on women and domestic violence.

Ms Crockwell said that the survey was intended to help support the campaign by collecting information from women across the island about their housing situations.

“We need this raw data to truly highlight how this crisis is affecting women and their families,” she said.

“The survey is available on our website, www.wrcbermuda.com, and will remain open through August 31.

“We urge all women in Bermuda to participate and share their experiences. After collecting and analysing the data from the survey, we will share our findings and use them to further inform and strengthen our advocacy efforts on this critical issue.”

The charity said that addressing housing challenges on the island will require a collective effort from across the community beyond legislators and policymakers.

The charity’s statement said: “Homeowners, in particular, have a unique opportunity to contribute to the solution.

“We understand that homeownership and being a landlord come with their own set of challenges.

“However, we believe that socially conscious homeowners can make a significant impact in our community.”

The charity said that it was in the process of building a database of “socially conscious landlords” willing to rent units at affordable prices and urged homeowners who would like to assist to make contact with the organisation.

The WRC statement added: “Housing is deeply fundamental to the success of individuals and communities.

“The WRC's Housing Advocacy Campaign seeks to bring this issue to the forefront of public discourse and urge policymakers, community leaders and the public to take action.

“By addressing housing insecurity, we can create a more equitable and just society where all women have the opportunity to thrive.”

• To learn more about the campaign, take part in the survey or sign up as a socially conscious landlord, visitwww.wrcbermuda.comor the WRC’s Church Street office