250 low cost homes for poor and vulnerable persons under new housing programme; 2000 to receive home improvement financing

In addition to the upgrade to the infrastructure of the communities, a big part of the project will also focus on the construction of low cost homes and home improvement for those persons who may have acquired a house lot but have found themselves living in shack-like houses. 

250 low cost homes for poor and vulnerable persons under new housing programme; 2000 to receive home improvement financing

The Central housing Planning Authority (CHPA) in the collaboration with the Inter- American Development Bank (IDB) is getting ready to roll out a homes and community development project targeting those persons who are poor and vulnerable in various communities..

The Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility Program, is expected to benefit persons from select communities in Georgetown, the East Bank and East Coast of Demerara and the West Demerara.

In addition to the upgrade to the infrastructure of the communities, a big part of the project will also focus on the construction of low cost homes and home improvement for those persons who may have acquired a house lot but have found themselves living in shack-like houses.

According to the Deputy Director for Community Development, Donnel Bess-Bascom,  “in order to qualify for such a programme, the person or household must be occupying their allocated low income lot. They must be the legitimate owner and this must be verified by documentation and the household must have completed payment for that lot and the applicant must be at least 18-years of age”.

She added that “this programme targets primarily households that are occupying that lot but are living in buildings that do not meet habitable requirements, buildings that might be referred to more or less, as a shack”.

The housing official also explained that once a household qualifies for the programme, the homeowner would have to make an equity share contribution of $100,000 and the project would cover the rest of the cost for the core home. Qualifying persons will be given up to three months to complete payment of the $100,000 contribution.

The total cost of the home will not be more than $4 million and under the project, 250 new homes will be constructed.

The other part of the housing initiative will target those persons who already have their low-income homes but those homes are in need of repair or completion.

The home improvement subsidy will see qualifying persons receiving up to $500,000 in building materials for the specific needs of their homes.

However, they will have to cover all of the labour costs associated with the home improvement. Two thousand persons/homeowners will benefit from the home improvement project in the identified low income communities.

Under the the improvement subsidy programme, there are specific types of improvements to the home that will qualify for financing.

Roof repairs, bathroom and wall repairs and extensions of overcrowded houses, are among the areas that would qualify for the financing.

Persons interested in benefiting from the two projects would have to make applications through the Central Housing and Planning Authority between November 1, 2018 and February 1, 2019.

Application forms are available at all of the Local Authority offices in the identified communities.

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