HDC to start big housing push to provide land for the landless

The People's Partnership government is reintroducing an old policy to speed up the delivery of homes to citizens.

The plan is to provide a foundation for the homes and allow the applicant build according to his/her own plans, following certain established guidelines. That policy, which was originally introduced by the Panday UNC government, was scrapped by the Manning PNM government.

There are about 129,000 names on the waiting list of the Housing Development Corporation (HDC).

The program, to be called Land for the Landless, is expected to begin in September, targeting the backlog on the waiting list.

Applicants will have the opportunity to decide if they want to build two or three-bedroom houses and the choice of material.

Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal has said there is a two-fold aim with the plan. The first is to reducing the housing backlog and the second is to make sure those desirous of owning a parcel of land can have one.

The foundation for the houses will include flooring, toilet/bath facilities, plumbing and infrastructure for the sewer.

“Allowing people to construct their own homes gives them the opportunity to become independent. We are looking at options to avoid applicants from being in debt for the next 25 to 30 years," Moonilal told the Guardian.

"We would provide applicants with a foundation so they can build but it must be within certain parameters.

“They would be able to decide whether they want to use wood or concrete, the type of roof and ceiling but we are very clear on the size of the unit and indoor facilities,” he added.

The HDC is still aiming at providing 10,000 homes annually. That's over 800 a month.

“Between the LSA (Land Settlement Agency) and HDC we would have two dynamic land distribution programmes running parallel. We are looking at within one year to provide as much as 10,000 plots for housing if we use both LSA and HDC,” the minister said.

The minister insisted that the lands to be provided will be strictly for housing. "The lands are not to be used for agriculture, to open a parlour or a disco. Anyone caught in violation would be dealt with accordingly,” he minister.