No one disagrees that there is a housing crisis in Bermuda. However, the depth of the problem and its social repercussions seem to elude many of us. I believe that the lack of affordable and adequate housing is only the tip of the iceberg that is threatening to seriously damage or destroy our society. This vexing problem is profoundly affecting children, the working poor, marriages, the elderly, former prisoners and other individuals and groups not mentioned here.

When it comes to children, consider this. The housing challenges that many of our fellow Bermudians face on a daily basis cause a number of socially unhealthy spin-offs. Many good parents are taking huge risks by their choices in trying to provide the basic food, shelter and clothing for their families. The price of shelter is the main motivator for many who are trying to earn the essential extra dollars. Working overtime or second or third jobs may provide the required funds; but at what cost? Unsupervised children in crowded, cramped conditions are candidates for performing poorly in school, introduction to drugs, physical and sexual abuse, teenage pregnancy, violence and other negative outcomes that could occur when parents are absent from the home on a regular basis and for long periods of time.

We should all be alarmed at the number of young children seen hanging out on our streets, sometimes late at night. The question is often asked: “Where are their parents?” While there are some parents who demonstrate selfish neglect, there are many who are pursuing the ideal of trying to make a better life for their families. Unfortunately, in reality, the main ingredients of time, teaching, and love are missing. These missing ingredients can result in the socially unhealthy problems mentioned earlier.

I am certain that numerous educators and sociologists will agree that sub-standard living arrangements, as they pertain to space in which to study and complete homework, coupled with the lack of privacy, is a contributing factor to low performance of children in school. The absence of supervision by working and/or over-tired parents may also compound the problem of below par performance of students.

There are numerous reasons for the anti-social behaviour in which some of our youth are engaged. I am of the opinion that one of the root causes is the lack of affordable and adequate housing.

What about the working poor? There are people who are honest and hard-working but, because of their low level of income, they may never be able to afford “traditional housing” as we know it in Bermuda. Although there are housing rental subsidies offered through Financial Assistance, the amount required by applicants disqualifies many.

For the working poor, the lack of affordable housing can contribute to the feeling of despondency of not being able to get ahead. Unfortunately, this defeatist attitude may be passed on to their children who also could grow up not really expecting to succeed.

High rents have not been a friend to marriages. Many couples spend a great deal of time working to pay their biggest monthly expense — the rent. Sometimes one or both partners work overtime or work at a second job to meet the very basic need of shelter. Financial pressures coupled with the lack of quality time spent together are two of the contributing factors to the difficult challenges some couples face and to the breakdown of some marriages.

Many of our seniors in spite of their desire and/or need are unable to work. This means that they, to a large extent, have to depend on their very limited income and resources to pay rent. Worries over inadequate and unaffordable housing certainly do not contribute to the happiness, peace of mind, and enjoyment of those members of our society who should be celebrating their golden years.

For many prisoners, whose release may be imminent, the lack of a real choice of where to live after their discharge, presents our society with another set of challenges. The lack of a half-way house is a probable cause of some ex-prisoners going back to their old undesirable haunts thus making them candidates for recidivism.

The anger and frustration of those in our society who are victims of the housing crunch may be triggers for much of the anti-social behaviour that we experience on an almost daily basis.

The collective impact of the scenarios presented here does not bode well for a well-adjusted, happy and safe society.

We must work together to tackle this predicament that threatens to engulf us. Building homes for rent or sale is not the whole answer. Until there is a thorough assessment of the types of accommodation needed and the numbers of individuals or families in need of these categories of housing, then the work that is being done in that arena is just a guessing game.

For the sake of our people who are in need and for the sake of generations to come, let’s exert our energy together to get it right.Charles Jeffers is the former chairman of the National Liberal Party