At One Stop Shop…
THE Ministry of Housing and Water introduced its ‘Core House Pilot’ project during a ‘One Stop Shop’ exercise at Rose Hall Community Centre in Corentyne, Berbice, on Wednesday.
The aim of it is to provide  core (starter) homes and, in order to facilitate the implementation of the second Low Income Settlement Programme (LISP-2), currently being executed by the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA), the Government has received funding from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
One component of the programme funds pilot projects to address issues of affordability and sustainability in housing and one of them, ‘The Core House Pilot’ is geared to improve the occupancy level within targeted schemes.
Through it, the Government is to construct 400 core homes in specified schemes, with the objective of bettering the quality of life of low income families by availing greater access to housing.
Addressing the Wednesday gathering, Minister of Housing and Water, Mr. Irfaan Ali disclosed that Government has already invested $1.2 billion in the Housing Sector in Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne), within the last four years.
Pointing to the many benefits from the introduction of such a programme, he urged the potential beneficiaries to grab the opportunity for moving forward as the Region continues to develop.
The CHPA is to build 25 core homes in Ordnance /Fortlands Phase Two, for allottees that meet the relevant criteria.
CHPA representative, Ms. Donna Bess-Bascom outlined the specifics of the design for those houses.
She said the structures will be basic minimum shelters and a work in progress that enables the owner to expand as the household’s affordability increases or the size expands.

TECHNICAL GUIDANCE

Bess-Bascom also emphasised that, during the expansion, the necessary technical guidance would be provided by CHPA to ensure that it remains within the stipulated 413 square feet.
Ms. Onica McPherson, who received her lot the same day, expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Housing for introducing the Core House Pilot.
“I am a mother of five and I feel very happy to have my house lot and, because of the Core House Pilot, I will soon be a home owner,” she said.
Bess-Bascom also briefed likely applicants on the requirements and said those interested must be allottees of low income house lots, in the selected schemes, who have not started to build or who occupy low standard buildings in the schemes.
Their household income must not exceed $60,000 monthly and would have had to finish paying for their house lots.
Such persons must have the ability to pay the equity share of $100,000 within one month after being selected and, if successful, would be required to occupy the house within one month of its completion.
If the allocation is to be a joint one, then all of the relevant parties must apply, Bess-Bascom said, noting that core houses in Ordnance/Fortlands Phase Two will be built on Lots 365-379 and Lot 440-452 and people can apply through November 3.
Ordnance /Fortlands is at East Bank Berbice, approximately half a kilometre or a quarter mile inland.
Phase two is an extension of phase one which was completed in 2008, under the Government of Guyana Programme which provided 533 serviced lots.
The development of the additional acreage will add 460 lots, making Ordnance /Fortlands one of the largest housing schemes in Region Six, with a total of 995 house lots.