Imbert: Housing programme will be funded to the hilt

Finance Minister Colm Imbert said he will continue to provide funding for the Housing and Village Improvement Programme (HVIP) of the Housing and Urban Development Ministry as long as he is Finance Minister. Housing and Urban Development Minister Camille Robinson-Regis said the programme received $28 million in 2021/2022 and $58 million in 2022/2023.

The ministers were speaking at the Land Settlement Agency’s HVIP key distribution ceremony on Tuesday at the Government Campus Plaza Auditorium on Richmond Street, Port of Spain, where 91 keys were handed out to recipients of various communities. These included Princes Town, Morvant, Guayaguayare, Valencia, Diego Martin, Arima, Bon-Air North, Morvant, Demerara/Wallerfield, St. Augustine, Point Fortin, and San Fernando.

Robinson-Regis said the homes were close to completion, up to starter level, with an important aspect of the programme being that the occupants are able to put their own finishing touches on the homes.

“While we hand out keys to 91 homes today, we have another 120 currently under construction, and for fiscal year 2022/2023 (fiscal 2023), the LSA is projected to construct an additional 275 starter home units. This will add to our current total tally of 423 units since inception.

“This government will not cut any programme like the HVIP because it helps us to fulfill our core purpose to give citizens access to adequate and affordable housing. The budgetary allocation increased from $28 million in fiscal 2022 to $58 million this fiscal 2023.”

Robinson-Regis said government had approved an increase in the number of households that can benefit from the programme by creating a new subsidy structure that facilitates the construction of houses on undulating and/or hilly lands.

She said this was done because there were a number of people living on these types of lands who were unable to benefit because contractors found it challenging to undertake works due to the higher costs of construction on these terrains.

“Cabinet approved the introduction of a three-tiered subsidy structure based on land topography and an increase in the maximum subsidy applicable for the construction of a two-bedroom housing unit from $145,000 to $165,000 for construction on flat lands; $170,000 for construction on undulating lands; and $175,000 for construction on hilly lands.”

She said this subsidy structure was being introduced for all ongoing and future construction of houses.

Robinson-Regis congratulated the participants for their willingness to be a part of the programme.

“When the LSA starts looking at a site for improvement, it looks at the quality of the existing housing, the household size, its composition, the occupants' employment status and income levels, but it also looks at prospective beneficiaries’ willingness to work for what they want; in other words, your willingness to do your part. This is why I congratulate all of you here today, you are all champions here, because if you have come this far, it means that you have done your part.”

Imbert said some of the people who were receiving keys were from his constituency of Diego Martin North East or the Prime Minister’s constituency of Diego Martin West, both of which had formerly been part of an old cocoa estate which was developed into one of the oldest recognised developments in TT that was not part of a built development.

“When the present government began this programme a few years, it was begun in Moruga where there were people living in depressed circumstances in board houses, and the government decided it was going to uplift the standard of living of these people, and converted the board houses into concrete structures.”

He noted the structures were free to the recipients, who did not have to pay for the basic structure.

“That is what I like so much about the programme, as well as the cost-effectiveness of it. An HDC house in the past cost as much as $1.5 million to construct, while these cost $150,000, so you’re talking about a tenth of the cost of an HDC house and you’re still getting a house that is close to completion.

“I was speaking to Minister in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development Adrian Leonce, and he has an idea which I support. This should be a special programme all on its own. As long as I am Minister of Finance, I will fund this programme to the hilt.”

PoS Mayor Joel Martinez entreated the recipients to take care of their homes and their communities.

“When you get your starter home, plant trees around it, as well as vegetation to get some of your own food. You can build your families around it as the homes come with space around them. Build your community, make sure it's secured, look after it.”

Leonce said housing is one of the most basic needs. He said it was important to have something sustainable to withstand the weather considering the changing weather patterns. He said the programme would be expanded to reach the most vulnerable people and give them shelter.