• Category

  • Content Type

Advertisement

Affordable Houses Being Built for Very Low Income Earners

May 13, 2013

The Full Story

Minister with responsibility for Housing, Hon. Dr. Morais Guy, has informed that work has already started under a programme, which will see Food for the Poor constructing and selling houses to the National Housing Trust (NHT).

The collaborative project, which involves the Ministry, Food for the Poor, the NHT, and the Jamaica Emergency Employment Project (JEEP) Secretariat, will benefit low-income earners.

Speaking at a post-Sectoral Debate press briefing at the Ministry’s offices in Kingston on Friday, May 10, Dr. Guy disclosed that some 77 units have already been built in Hampden, Trelawny.

“We’re going to be building an additional amount in Meylersfield in Westmoreland, which will take the initial number to 102,” he further informed.

The programme, which was initially announced by the Minister of Transport, Works and Housing, Dr. the Hon. Omar Davies, during the 2013/14 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on May 7, will see Food for the Poor constructing some 600 concrete housing units (360 sq. ft. each) annually for sale to the NHT.

The houses are to be constructed for the equivalent of US$9,500 per unit and will be made available to NHT contributors who earn a weekly salary of between $5,000 and $7,000.

Dr. Guy said the government is earnestly moving ahead with the project, which represents an opportunity to respond to the needs of low-income NHT contributors.

“We are also earnestly looking at lots scattered all over the island, which can accommodate these units. We have a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the NHT to deal with this,” he said.

Dr. Guy further noted that the programme will take into consideration those contributors, “who have their own land and can build on those lands.” He said the units would be built at a lower cost under those circumstances.

Contact: Athaliah Reynolds-Baker

Last Updated: July 22, 2013

Skip to content