Mid-year report… Housing profile study to be finalised in second half of 2017

Aug 08, 2017 News, http://www.kaieteurnewsonline....second-half-of-2017/

The Housing Profile Study is expected to be finalised during the second half of this year. The final draft was submitted for review to the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) during the first half of 2017.
This was revealed in the Ministry of Finance’s Mid-Year report. The study, based on information provided on CH&PA’s website, will be the basis for the preparation of the National Housing Policy that is expected to inform the revitalisation of the housing sector so that it can fulfil its role within the economy.
The study is being funded through collaboration between the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and the CH&PA. Further, the report said that initial work on the National Housing Strategy has commenced.
Concerning activities planned for the second half of this year, the mid-year report highlighted that the CH&PA will commence in earnest on moving away from distributing serviced house lots and focus on providing affordable duplexes and apartments.
The report said that 40 duplexes will be constructed at Perseverance on the East Bank of Demerara. Further, single unit two-bedroom homes will be built at Onderneeming on the Essequibo Coast, Perseverance Phase two, Perseverance Phase three, Amelia’s Ward Linden, Wisrock, Linden and New Amsterdam. A total of 350 single unit two-bedroom homes will be built across these communities.
According to the finance ministry, these initiatives are to increase home ownership, foster greater economic activity and support poverty alleviation.
Additionally, there has been a noticeable slothfulness with some persons to occupy their lands in recently developed schemes. To address this issue, the report said that the government has taken the decision to utilise about US$30M for housing infrastructure development.
“Road, water, and electricity infrastructure, as well as social amenities in select catchment areas, will be developed and improved with the aim of attracting land owners to construct and occupy their homes.”
Moreover, 400 new core homes will be built and 400 homes will be identified for improvement in order to address the housing gap, the report said.
Earlier this year there were a number of meetings aimed at discussing the development of the National Housing Strategy. Several agencies have been represented by high level officials at these events including the Guyana Water Incorporated, Ministry of Communities, Guyana Lands and Survey Commission, National Drainage and Irrigation Authority and the Environmental Protection Agency among others.
According to the CH&PA, the strategy will address the expansion of Guyana’s housing supply, improving affordability and access to adequate housing.