FORMER squatters of the abandoned Club Med hotel could be homeless once more ¿ nine months after being given alternative shelter by Government.

The squatters, along with residents of the former Leopard's Club Plaza hotel, were put up at the Pembroke Rest Home last spring after it was ruled that the buildings they were staying in were unsafe.

But the tenants have now received an eviction notice from the Bermuda Housing Corporation ordering them out of the rest home by the end of next month.

A letter to tenants from BHC general manager Glenn Brangman states: "Please be advised that effective Monday, 31st March, 2008, the Bermuda Housing Corporation will be terminating the temporary transitional housing at the Pembroke Rest Home. Tenants that require assistance with housing are urged to register at the Bermuda Housing Corporation office as soon as possible."

The letter also warns that all tenants who owe the BHC rent must contact the authority by the end of this month.

"Failure to take this action will result in your account being forwarded to either the Bermuda Credit Association or the Bermuda Debt Collection Agency," the letter, dated January 18, states.

"You will be responsible for all additional associated collection costs. This could have a negative effect on your credit and your ability to borrow from a bank or purchase goods on credit.

"The Bermuda Housing Corporation will enforce immediate eviction if no satisfactory arrangements are made by 29 February 2008. Child and Family Services will be informed of families with children that are subject to eviction."

The plight of the squatters was first highlighted by Opposition Senator Gina Spence-Farmer last year.

In March 2007, Sen. Spence-Farmer said that around 50 squatters were occupying former staff dormitories at the site ¿ and that, because of a number of safety hazards in the abandoned block, the situation was "a tragedy waiting to happen".

A week earlier, elderly occupants of the Pembroke Rest Home were evacuated to the newly-opened Sylvia Richardson Rest Home in St. George's because of a fire at the nearby Pembroke dump. As a result, in May 2007, Government was able to move the squatters and residents of the former Leopard's Club Plaza ¿ which was also damaged in a fire ¿ into the empty rest home.

The Mid-Ocean News has been unable to discover how many families currently live in the rest home, why they are being ordered out, or what plans Government has for the facility.

On Wednesday Major Brangman declined to comment on the matter and asked that all questions be directed to Government's Department of Communications and Information.

No response to our questions was received by press time last night.

But Sen. Spence-Farmer questioned why the move was necessary, what contingency plan Government had in place for the residents, and if families would be split up as a result of the eviction.

She pointed out that the squatters had signed up with the BHC as a condition of being housed at the rest home seven months ago ¿ and yet it appeared the BHC had been unable to find them more permanent accommodation.

And she said she spoke to one squatter who confirmed that everyone was being evicted ¿ and that many had nowhere else to stay.

"What has the BHC done in the last seven months to assist these people?" she asked.

"I understand that the emergency housing at the Salvation Army is falling apart and emergency housing at the base in St. David's is maxed out ¿ so what is the long-term plan for these families who simply cannot afford any rental?"

Sen. Spence-Farmer also questioned the effectiveness of the Cross-Ministry Initiative ¿ which was set up to deal with emergency issues such as housing.

"It seems that this is the perfect scenario in which to bring that initiative in so that the resources they need can be found," she said.

"But this is also a long-term problem that requires a long-term plan and you have to ask how this problem is being handled, bearing in mind we're talking about human life and a cross section of families who risk being split up."