A bipartisan approach is the crucial first step residents can take to ease the housing crunch, according to the founder of an international house building organisation.

Millard Fuller, president and founder of Habitat for Humanity International, gave a lecture last night about the work of the organisation and the world, encouraging all residents to commit themselves to seriously eliminating poverty housing. "A place like Bermuda should have no sub-standard housing," said Mr. Fuller, who's words were met with rounds of applause.

"In Bermuda you have got money running out the gazoo and a serious problem of poverty housing but it is not one that is unsolvable."

Today Mr. Fuller will meet for an information session with Housing Minister Ashfield DeVent and Health Minister Patrice Minors.

Several hundred people attended the meeting at Whitney Institute last night to hear Mr. Fuller's presentation. He was joined by board members Bishop Ewan Rattery and Rev. Wilbur Lowe.

"A group of Government leaders, church leaders, civiv leaders and community leaders must come together in a committee to dedicate themselves to getting rid of the problem. But first you need to start with the facts."

Mr. Fuller said Habitat's goal of building homes for every family in need is a grassroots effort which encourages home owners to participate in the process through "sweat equity", meaning the owners help to build the house, and pay it back through a profit free and interest free payment plan.

Mr. Fuller told the packed meeting hall: "We call this the 21st Century challenge. No problem can be solved without getting your arms around it to find out the full extent of the problem. We encourage the Government to set a reasonable date and commit to eliminating all sub-standard housing."

On Tuesday, in an interview with The Royal Gazette, Mr. Fuller said Government must make a serious effort to eliminate the housing crisis for the benefit of all Island residents. He pointed out that without a simple, decent place to live ordinary people cannot develop into productive citizens.

Mr. Fuller founded Habitat for Humanity in 1976 with his wife Linda. The organisation has grown over the years to build homes with more than 150,000 families in need in nearly 3,000 communities around the globe. Volunteers build houses for an average of $50,000 to $60,000 and $100,000 in wealthier regions of the United States. Mr. Fuller has travelled extensively throughout the world and has helped to build homes in Africa and in the Pacific Islands similar to the size of Bermuda.