25 homes to be constructed for financially-strapped families

…118 persons to get $500,000 each in home improvement subsidies

Twenty-five financially-strapped families who would have received lands through the Housing and Water Ministry’s “Dream Realised” initiative but cannot afford to build their homes will get help from Government assistance to build their homes.
This was announced on Friday by Housing and Water Minister, Collin Croal during a contract signing at the Ministry. Funding for this Home Support Programme will be done through the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The 25 homes will be in La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

Minister Croal explained that the beneficiaries must be owners of the lots, while noting that persons will be selected through a process of transparency.
Croal stated that the Government has made a commitment to provide the necessary resources needed to complete the infrastructural works in the areas that are in dire need.
“This programme has been reformulated, as part of our goal to provide sustainable and affordable housing, as well as access to basic infrastructure for Guyanese, particularly those in low-income communities,” Croal expressed.
The core homes will [be] 330 square feet single family homes with concrete blocks for the outer walls and floors, basic doors, windows, electrical wiring, and water connections designed to meet basic standards that a family can move into and expand over time.
In addition to the 25 houses, some 118 persons in the La Parfaite Harmonie area will receive $500,000 each in home improvement subsidies.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Central Housing & Planning Authority (CH&PA) Sherwyn Greaves explained “…we would have had our staff visit the areas and have seen houses that were badly in need of repairs, but the persons residing in them – due to financial situations can’t do the repairs.”
The CEO stated that a sum of $500,000 will be contributed to each of those selected households for the purchasing of the necessary materials needed for the repairs such as building materials for repairs to walls, floors, electrical works and sanitation improvements, among others.
The contract was awarded to Cemax Procurement and Contracting – Lot Seven at a sum of $10,881,287, and Mike and Daughters Lumberyard – Lots One-Six along with Lot Eight at a sum of $54,257,545.
Lots 1-5 of the rehabilitation contracts were awarded to Tristar Industries Inc at a sum of $98,920,225.
The Minister urged the contractors to ensure the projects are delivered in a quality and time efficient manner.