Four ECD families receive keys to new core homes

The quality of life for four families within the communities of Good Hope and Lusignan, East Coast Demerara has been vastly improved, as they have now received keys to newly constructed, two-bedroom core homes, under the Ministry of Housing and Water and the Inter-American Development Bank’s (IBD) Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility Programme (AHUAP).

The proud homeowners are Ms. Chandradai Harilall of Lot 218 Good Hope; Mr. Tulsiram Sutraban of Lot 147 Area X Plantation Good Hope, Ms. Pranpattie Mangal of Lot 507 Good Hope, and Ms. Sabrina Joseph of Lot 396 Lusignan.

Minister within the Ministry, Susan Rodrigues and IDB Country Representative, Ms. Lorena Solórzano-Salazar joined these families on the occasion, as they are now able to move into their new homes. Minister Rodrigues noted that the Core Home initiative aids in enhancing the Government’s housing drive as it targets the most vulnerable sections of our society. She added that since the commencement of the project, the Ministry, being the executing agency and with the guidelines outlined by the IDB has been able to meet the intended target audience. The Minister further stated that the beneficiary selection process has ensured that the lives of the most vulnerable families are transformed and their living conditions improved.

Meanwhile, similar sentiments were echoed by the IDB Country Representative. Ms. Solórzano-Salazar said the bank continues to build on the long-term partnership with the Ministry and so far, they are pleased with the outcome.

“This programme has been a long-term partnership and it’s not the first, we had before the Hinterland Housing Programme and now under this program, some 360 families will benefit”.

The IDB Country Rep. stressed the fact that the programme aim is to enhance the quality of life for vulnerable families in a holistic way as the various components deal with all-round development of communities.

AHUAP is an IDB-funded programme, aimed at improving the quality of life in urban and peri-urban Georgetown through better access to adequate housing and basic infrastructure for low-income populations, and through improved accessibility and mobility services. In addition to the Core Home initiative, another aspect of AHUAP is the Home Improvement Subsidy, which sees beneficiaries receiving a $500,000 grant in the form of materials to make much-needed repairs to their homes. AHUAP also prioritizes the safety of women and girls by conducting Women’s Safety Audit (WSA) workshops to properly plan infrastructure development in target communities.

The programme previously encompassed communities from Georgetown to Grove on the East Bank of Demerara, up to La Bonne Intention on the East Coast of Demerara and Westminster, Onderneeming, Recht-Door-Zee, Lust en Rust, and Parfaite Harmonie Phase II on the West Bank of Demerara. The Ministry expanded the boundary in 2021 to include nineteen communities on the East Coast of Demerara, stretching the boundary to Victoria. (Ministry of Housing and Water Press Release)