FAMILIES in need are falling through the cracks because the island's helping agencies are unable to cope with present demand.

And the situation could be far worse than imagined ? many fend for themselves, unaware of the support systems in place.

The issue was highlighted by Family Centre head Martha Dismont yesterday in light of claims by a single mother of seven, that not enough was being done to help her. Mrs. Dismont said she was unaware of the specifics of that case, but admitted the present social programmes are inadequate.

"I think what the community is dealing with is an overwhelming number of families, more families than the community has developed the resources to address," she said. "The Family Centre is here on this continuum, to deal with families in crisis.

"One of the reasons we set up the Inter-Agency Committee (a group dedicated to fostering alliances between human services agencies and improving the quality of care offered to children and families) was so there was one route of access, so people would know where to go for help. I really think the issue is that there are a lot more families out there that need help than the community is set up to deal with."

Because she is homeless, Matasha Winters was forced to give two of her children up for adoption. Three of her children are living with relatives. Ms Winters and the remaining two children live with her sister.

The 34 year old was evicted from her Bermuda Housing Corporation home because she fell into arrears after she lost her job at the Fairmont Southampton Princess. She eventually found a home in Somerset, but it was destroyed by fire while she was pregnant with her youngest child.

Ms Winters spoke with this week, desperate for a home and Government assistance. At present, she works part-time in a laundromat. "I know that I have made a lot of mistakes in life but when it comes to having a support system by your government, it fails somebody like me . . . It's just Bermuda needs to get a support system. It's not like I haven't been trying but there is nothing out there I could afford."

Mrs. Dismont said helping agencies are looking for more efficient ways of drawing attention to their existence.

"Agencies often say, 'They can go to our web site', but most of these families don't have a computer. What has been bantered about recently is whether we should be going out to see them. At the Family Centre we have family support specialists who actually go to homes. The referral must first come to the office and we do an assessment and we will visit your home. The problem is, some people don't want us in their homes.

"We have to question how many families know what we do? How many out there need help? Have we really set ourselves up to meet everybody's needs?"

She added that the issue wasn't about money, it was more a problem of resources. Parents, she said, could benefit if agencies worked with them and showed them how to do things for themselves.