–Beneficiaries praise accessible process, affordable homes and family-friendly designs

WOMEN and single mothers have welcomed what they described as a long-overdue opportunity for affordable homeownership, as the Government of Guyana officially launched the Hyde Park (Yarrowkabra) Homestead Project on Thursday, offering immediate access to completed homes and simplified financing arrangements.
At the launch, several women applicants were allocated homes on site, with a number securing on-the-spot mortgage approvals from participating financial institutions. Others received pre-qualification letters, enabling them to continue the process with banks of their choice.
Housing allocations under the initiative will continue at the Ministry of Housing and Water’s Brickdam headquarters, as the government accelerates occupancy at the new development along the Soesdyke–Linden Highway.
The Hyde Park Homestead Project features 600 square-foot, turnkey homes constructed by DuraVilla Homes. Each unit comprises two bedrooms, one bathroom, an open-plan kitchen, dining and living area, and a veranda.
Built on reinforced concrete foundations, the homes include concrete-floor finishes, UPVC windows, wooden internal doors and steel external doors. Priced at $7 million, the units come with standard electrical and plumbing installations, provisions for air-conditioning and hot water, a complete bathroom vanity with sink and faucet, a fibreglass shower tray, and kitchen cabinets fitted with quartz countertops.
Each home is also equipped with two 450-gallon water tanks and a 20 ft × 20 ft shade house, supporting small-scale planting and household sustainability.
For beneficiaries, the project represents not only access to housing, but a simplified and realistic path to ownership.
Mother of one, Latifa Robinson, described the process as seamless and transparent.
“The process was smooth. I already came as a pre-qualifier. When I came up to a representative from [the] Ministry of Housing, they wrote up the form. Then the banks are already here, so they told us to go [to] whichever bank we prefer. And the bank said that you can pay a deposit of $400,000, and per month you can pay as low as $21,000. It is a smooth and easy process,” Robinson said.
She also welcomed the design of the home, noting that it meets her family’s needs.
“This programme is a great programme. I have one son, and with him he is very active, so he has a lot of space to run around. I think the design is great,” she shared.

Natasha Jawaheer echoed those sentiments, highlighting the sense of security that comes with home ownership.
“I think this initiative that the government put out is very good, I mean it is helpful towards me and the children. Security wise, knowing that I have ownership, home ownership, you feel much better. It is a nice, comfortable and cozy home,” she said.
Encouraging others to apply, Jawaheer added: “It is a good programme, I would encourage other people to apply because it is very good.”
Mother of five, Nobessa Hutson, described receiving her home as the culmination of years of waiting.
“I am one of the moms that benefit from this beautiful house, our low-income home. I must say thanks to the Minister of Housing. I have waited patiently for several years and now I am here,” Hutson said.
“I am a mom of five and I am very grateful to have one of these houses today. And it will be a great benefit for me and my children. I can also do my little planting and we can live happily.”
The Hyde Park (Yarrowkabra) Homestead Project is a targeted housing initiative conceptualised under the direction of President Irfaan Ali, with a specific focus on women-led households and single parents.
The project adopts an integrated development model that links housing with forestry, agriculture and socio-economic empowerment, supporting long-term resilience and self-sufficiency. Construction is being executed by Duravilla Homes Guyana, utilising a range of locally available timber species.
As allocations continue, the initiative reflects the government’s broader strategy of pairing affordable, well-designed housing with accessible financing, aimed at strengthening family stability, expanding homeownership and improving quality of life across communities.