Habitat for Humanity seeks housing for the vulnerable

EFFORTS are being made to make housing and land accessible to vulnerable groups in TT by 2030. This was mentioned by Habitat for Humanity (HFH) representative Tracey Richardson Wallace at the launch of the Caribbean Civil Society Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Knowledge Platform. Richardson Wallace said one of the things which HFH is focusing on is reducing discrimination and improving housing and land access for vulnerable groups in society by 2030. These include the disabled, people living with HIV and AIDS and LGBTQIA
(lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender)communities.

On its website, HFH said the Housing and Urban Development Ministry estimates that some 240 000 people live in informal settlements and this is approximately 19 per cent of the population. The waiting list for government subsidised housing is approximately 160 000 people, with some waiting for up to 25 years. The main housing demand stems from inequity and population growth; the main obstacles to access are the spiralling costs of real estate and construction products, the lack of land, and the reluctance of traditional financing sources to support first-time homeownership in the low-income target group.

Richardson Wallace said HFH hoped to highlight its work and encourage other people to assist it, through the platform. The online platform features a mix of stories, case studies, videos and photos covering the transformative work of Caribbean civil society organisations in implementing the global SDGs and provides organisations working on sustainable development issues with a convenient nexus to share, learn, network and collaborate with one another.
The Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) has an open call for proposals for members of civil society to submit their projects to the platform. CANARI is a non-profit organisation that has spent the last 30 years promoting and facilitating effective management of natural resources that are critical to regional development in order that citizens enjoy a better quality of life. The online platform can be accessed at: www.hub.canari.org/sdg/.