NHT Provides $43 Million in Home Grants for Perth Beneficiaries

The National Housing Trust (NHT) has provided home grants totalling $43.2 million to help lower income contributors to purchase housing solutions in its newest scheme at Perth, Manchester.

A total of 36 beneficiaries have received grants of $1.2 million to buy their lots. These funds were made available to persons earning no more than $10,000 weekly and who have been contributing to the NHT for at least 10 years without getting a benefit.

The 592-acre Perth development, located just outside Mandeville, is the first major project undertaken by the NHT in Manchester.

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, on Wednesday, March 20, handed over service lots to the first 25 of 245 beneficiaries in Phase 1 of the development, following a bus tour of the project site.

Managing Director of the NHT, Cecile Watson, said the income of the beneficiaries of the scheme range from near minimum wage to over $20,000 per week.

“This is testament to how the NHT is pricing its housing solutions to bring them into the reach of its contributors at every income level,” Mrs. Watson stated.

She explained that in keeping with a commitment to provide opportunities for young professionals, the Trust selected 40 persons, 25 to 40 years old, to benefit in the scheme.

These include teachers, policemen, firemen and health professionals, who were selected on the basis of their contribution and whether they live or work in the parish.

Additionally, 64 solutions were assigned by way of special benefit order to 41 low income contributors, subsidised at a cost of $27.88 million; one disabled applicant; 13 NHT staff. and nine public sector employees.

The lots range in sizes from 7,500 sq ft. to a quarter of an acre, which is larger than most NHT scheme lots that are approximately 4,000 sq. ft.

“At a conservative estimate of two NHT contributors per household, the 258 lots in Perth Phase 1 will benefit a minimum of 516 contributors and the lives of extended families will be transformed through the gift of home ownership in this scheme,” Mrs. Watson said.

Meanwhile, National Security Minister and Member of Parliament, Central Manchester, Peter Bunting, welcomed the Perth beneficiaries to the constituency.

He joined others in advocating that the new recipients incorporate in their building plans, adequate provisions for the conservation and storage of water.

Since the NHT was established 37 years ago, it has constructed 285 housing schemes accounting for over 71,000 solutions, and financed thousands of other non scheme benefits, which have enabled contributors to buy land, build or purchase houses on the open market.

By Andrea Braham, JIS Reporter