The Ministry of Housing and Water is in the process of providing home improvement subsidies to underprivileged persons desirous of undertaking enhancement and upgrading work on their homes. The Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) has already invited applications from home owners who may be interested in the pilot project.
The package comprises financial contribution and technical assistance and targets 400 families in existing housing schemes.
CH&PA’s Community Development Specialist, Donell Bess-Bascom, said that each subsidy is valued at $200,000 and can be accessed by persons with income scale of up to $50,000.
She disclosed that seven schemes, including West Minster Phase One, Onderneeming Phase One, Recht-Door-Zee Phase One, Area ‘B’ Lusignan, Block ‘D’ Bath Phase One, Tabatinga Lethem and Amelia’s Ward Phase Two, will initially be targeted, with 100 subsidies in 2010.
Bess-Bascom noted that the project, which falls under the Second Low Income Settlement (LIS) Programme, and funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), will eventually provide subsidies to 20 housing schemes.
Included in the LIS programme is a component that would assist households to carry out repair works on roof, walls, floors etc, Bess-Bascom revealed.
“These repairs are to existing homes so the person must first have a house lot in the scheme and must also be in occupancy of the lot,” Bess-Bascom explained.
She stated that eligibility will be determined in accordance with the operating regulations of the programme.
The Authority will meet with Neighbourhood and Regional Democratic Councils (NDCs and RDCs) on August 5, 10, 12, and 14 in Block B Bath, Amelia’s Ward, Lusignan and West Minster respectively.
The Housing Ministry has grown increasingly popular for its efforts in making housing amenities and services more accessible to the less fortunate.
The ministry has also embarked on a core homes project which seeks to provide 113 affordable homes to low income families by the end of the year. (GINA)