SOME 20 families from the villages of Warapoka and Haimaruni, Region One, are set to enjoy a better quality of life, after receiving they keys to their new elevated timber houses from the Ministry of Housing and Water through its Hinterland Housing Programme.

During a simple handing-over ceremony at Warapoka, in the Moruca sub-region, on Saturday, Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal, congratulated the homeowners, and relate that the exercise was yet another demonstration of the government’s commitment to citizens.

“This is a start for you. You can expand on this. You now have a three-bedroom home for you and your family,” he emphasised.
Each house, which costs $3.9 million, is outfitted with three bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen area, and a black tank to facilitate rainwater harvesting.

According to information from the Ministry of Housing and Water, this is an investment of $39 million into the village economy. So far, 40 houses have been handed over to beneficiaries under this programme.
Some 125 out of 400 of these houses have been completed in Kokerite, Warapoka, Haimaruni, Tiger Pond, Lethem, Yakarinta, Nappi, Crashwater and Rupunau.

“This project has not only generated employment opportunities for residents but also provided disposable income in their households. This housing programme continues to improve the lives of many indigenous residents in Regions One, Seven, Eight, and Nine,” the ministry said.

Further, over the years, the village council has received some $50 million in various grants, Minister Croal said.
At Haimaruni, Minister Croal emphasised that the community has witnessed various interventions aimed at fast-track developments.
Similarly, investments are being made in the water sector to increase treated water coverage to 100 per cent in the hinterland regions by the end of next year.

Minister Croal also used the opportunity to highlight the strides made in the water sector.
He told residents that in 2020, access to potable water stood at 45 per cent in the hinterland regions. Access to potable water in Region One, for instance, stood at 38 per cent.

Now, access to treated water in the region stands at 75 per cent and is expected to increase by 92 per cent by year-end.
Minister Croal said that contracts totaling $52.8 million were recently awarded to SRT Constructing General Supplies to drill new wells in Santa Cruz, Warapoka, and Kokerite.