HAMILTON, Bermuda (CMC) – The Bermuda government says it is working “hard” to deliver the housing solutions the Overseas British Territory (BOT) needs, noting that over the last two  months of 2025, the waiting list from the Bermuda Housing Corporation (BHC) had increased to more than 350 households.

Deputy Premier and Minister of Housing and Municipalities, Zane Desilva, told a news conference that recent data from the BHC provides “a clear picture of the growing pressure on some of the most vulnerable people in our community”.

He said that between November and December 2025, the BHC waitlist grew from 333 to 357 households and that the increase was seen across every priority category.

“Urgent cases still represent the largest share of applicants. However, the fastest growth is now among regular applicants, many of whom are working individuals and families who are finding it increasingly difficult to afford market rents.

“As of November, nearly 60 per cent of applicants were seeking studio or one-bedroom units. This reflects the pressures facing seniors on fixed incomes, individuals living alone, and smaller households,” Desilva said, adding that “it is important to remember that BHC data represents just one part of the broader housing picture”.

He said while it does not capture all challenges in the private rental market, it does reflect those most in need of assistance, making it a critical indicator of where pressures are most acute.

He said these realities reinforce the importance of expanding affordable housing options and that these trends are precisely why the government is taking a broader, more coordinated approach to housing.

Desilva said work on the Affordable Housing Strategy for 2025 to 2035 continues alongside the day-to-day delivery effort and that “this Strategy is designed as a long-term, stabilising framework to close Bermuda’s housing gap over the next decade.

He said it focuses on expanding and diversifying housing supply, rehabilitating derelict and underused properties, improving affordability and access, modernising regulations and strengthening governance across the housing system.

Desilva said the consultation process has reinforced a key point that housing is not the responsibility of one ministry alone and that every ministry has a role to play, and meaningful collaboration is essential to ensure a truly integrated, whole-of-government approach.

He said initial consultations with government Ministries have been completed, and the process has now moved into consultations with technical departments.

“Copies of the draft have been provided to Cabinet, and we are working toward releasing a public consultation draft in February so the wider community can help shape the final strategy,”  Desilva told reporters, adding that he has formed a technical advisory team including representatives from the BHC and the Bermuda Land Management Corporation (BLMC).

“This team is actively examining alternative construction methods, including precast concrete, modular, and prefabricated systems, with the aim of reducing construction costs, accelerating delivery timelines, and ensuring that local contractors remain fully involved in future housing projects.

“Taken together, the strategy provides a clear roadmap for how Government intends to deliver affordable and attainable housing over the next ten years, not through one single solution, but through a balanced mix of new construction, rehabilitation, private-sector participation, and regulatory reform.”

Desilva said looking ahead to the 2026–27 financial year, more than 30 sites across the island have been identified for potential housing development. He said these sites are already owned by either the BHC or the BLMC.

He said other projects were also moving forward and that collectively, these developments represent 37 new affordable housing units, with the majority expected to come online in the next few months.