Proud recipient of a core home is Sophia single parent

– among six families to receive keys to newly-built core homes

Benefitting from better living conditions, six low-income families of Sophia, Georgetown, will now after receiving the keys to their core homes on Friday afternoon, while 22 residents received up to $500,000 GUY, as part of the home improvement subsidy initiative.

It was disclosed that the Core Home and Improvement Subsidy project is part of the Housing and Water Ministry– Central Housing and Planning Authority’s (CHPA) Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility Programme (AHUAP) funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

It was pointed out that Himattie Kissoon, who has been living in Sophia for the past 23 years in unfavourable conditions, commended the government for providing the opportunity for her to enjoy a more stable and comfortable home.

Kissoon lived in an old wooden house with her young daughter who is living with a disability. The woman said she was unable to upgrade her living conditions due to financial constraints. She applied for the programme back in 2018 but only got through last year.

The single mother is now the proud recipients of a two- bedroom 20ft x 20ft wooden home equipped with all the necessary amenities.

“It [ living conditions] was real poor and I am very happy…it will make a lot of change in my live, I am very thankful for that,” she told the media.

It was disclosed that the homes were constructed to the tune of $ 4MGUY each. Beneficiaries are only required to contribute $100,000GUY.

As such, a total of 50 core homes will be constructed in Sophia, which represents 20 per cent of the overall core home project, that will see a total of 250 units being constructed. Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal, speaking at the handing over ceremony, said that already, $942MGUY has been expended for the construction of core homes, subsidies and other community infrastructure projects under AHUAP.

Croal disclosed that the government is in negotiation with the bank to increase the value of the subsidy programme in keeping with increased cost for construction materials, as well as to have some more areas included in the boundary.

“As part of our focus in 2023, more emphasis on home construction…we want in a fast track way to be able to encourage homeownership,” he noted.

Junior Housing and Water Minister, Susan Rodrigues pointed out that the intention is to ensure the residents of Sophia are provided with equal opportunities to upgrade their living standards and enjoy a better quality of life.

“Regardless of whether it is a community who is politically supportive of the government or not we are supportive of every single community,” the minister stressed. 

Rodrigues noted government’s housing programme which caters for all Guyanese, particularly vulnerable groups. She added that it is for this reason the project boundary was extended to ensure more persons are given the opportunity to benefit.