with AIDS if plans are approved by the Development Applications Board.

Support Therapy for AIDS patients and their Relatives (STAR), has applied to run the home, Winterhaven as a centre for homeless persons with the AIDS virus.

The home, situated on approximately 3 of an acre just west of John Smith's Bay on South Road, would not perform the same function as Agape House, Bermuda's hospice for the terminally ill.

Instead Mr. Alvin Wilson, STAR's assistant director said, it would provide "a caring environment for homeless persons with AIDS.'' "For a variety of reasons, often through a lack of education about the virus, there are some folks whose landlords and families are very uncomfortable with AIDS,'' he said. "What we're planning to do is establish a home for such folks.

"As we see folk becoming sick we will move them to medical surroundings, but Agape House is more for the needs of the terminally ill. This is for basically healthy people who have the AIDS virus. Sometimes they may go into remission or may have had a sudden attack of pneumonia at a stage when there is no need for acute medical attention and the hospice or the hospital is not the place for them.'' While he would not comment on the project's operating costs or its financial backer, Mr. Wilson said money was available.

"We do have financing but we're keeping it under wraps at the present time.'' The proposed development consists of the addition of a two-storey extension to create a seven bedroom residence.

"We're initially looking at about six people to stay there although there's probably room for more,'' Mr. Wilson said. "There's enough space for two people per room and the property has room for expansion and is basically hidden from the roadside with a nice area for a garden.'' He said nursing staff, a full-time caretaker and a psychological counsellor would be on hand for residents.

Unit co-ordinator of Agape House, Mrs. Hilary Soares said the hospice had had only one homeless person living there, and he eventually became terminally ill. She added that although the two facilities would perform separate functions, she fully supported the idea.

"From what I know there is a need for such a housing. It's an excellent idea that's long overdue.''