Single mother receives new home through Core Housing Programme

After years of renting and moving between relatives, Ms. Colleen Benn and her three children, ages 13, 14, and 5, finally have a place to call their own. On Monday, she received the keys to her new home at Lust-en-Rust, West Bank Demerara, under the Ministry of Housing and Water’s Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility, Core Home Support Programme.

To date, 124 families have been selected to benefit from the Core Home initiative on the West Bank of Demerara. Of these, 51 homes have been handed over, 50 are already occupied, and 43 remain under construction.

Housing Minister, Collin Croal, and Minister within the Ministry, Vanessa Benn, joined Ms. Benn in celebrating the milestone. Both officials commended the programme’s impact, noting its role in transforming the lives of vulnerable Guyanese by providing safe and affordable housing solutions.

For Ms. Benn, the handover marked the end of decades of uncertainty.
“I had been renting for decades and also staying with relatives, but those days are gone. I feel more relaxed now having my own space,” she said, expressing relief and gratitude.

The Core Home Support Programme targets vulnerable families, offering durable housing while also promoting improved urban accessibility and community development.

For Ms. Benn and her children, the new home is more than just shelter—it represents stability, comfort, and hope for a brighter future.