Applications reopen for subsidies and construction of core houses

The Ministry of Housing and Water has now reopened applications for the construction of core homes and the disbursement of home improvement subsidies.

The government was granted a US$28 million loan by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in 2017 under the Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility Programme; it is designed to improve housing conditions for poor and vulnerable people. The programme is expected to conclude in December 2022.

Chief Executive Officer for the Central Housing and Planning Authority Sherwyn Greaves urged the staff to treat the potential applicants with dignity and respect.

Already 100 people have been identified as beneficiaries for the core houses and 236 subsidies were delivered. The house is a flat concrete house with two bedrooms, while the subsidy is providing materials to a value of $500,000.

The application is free of cost and is now open up until February 2022. Persons can pick up applications at the local municipalities and the Ministry’s Georgetown and Region Three offices. Applications can also be done online at www.chpa.gov.gy

It must be noted that applicants will only be interviewed at the ministry’s new sub-office located at 237 Camp Street, Georgetown while online applicants will be scheduled.

Meanwhile, the government in recent months awarded contracts for the construction of 25 core homes in Sophia, Georgetown, and 25 at Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara.

Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal said the construction of these houses is intended to reduce housing instability. He explained that this is often linked to homelessness, all sorts of abuse, neglect, and high rates of absenteeism from work and school.

“The interventions that are being made are intended to target the poor and the vulnerable families within communities,” Minister Croal said.

However, he stated that persons who would have already benefited from subsidies under the IDB Finance Programme will not be eligible to apply now.

Minister Croal further said that the programme also forms part of the government’s mandate to provide sustainable and adequate housing for citizens.

The original boundary span for the programme was Grove, East Bank Demerara to La Bonne Intention, East Coast Demerara. However, the government approached the IDB about extending the boundary from Mon Repos to Haslinton, ECD so that thousands of citizens living in these areas who are deserving of core homes and subsidies would not be able to benefit.