The Ministry of Housing and Water is embarking on an initiative to promote home ownership by professionals and low-income persons, revealing that it expects to allocate about 5,500 house lots this year.

In a recent interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA) Minister Irfaan Ali said the ministry is moving to develop the Professional Group Partnership that would specifically target the needs of professionals including nurses, doctors, teachers and police officers. “We have a number of pilots and initiatives; we also have an update of the housing policy…that we are looking to complete this year… as we plan the future of the housing sector,” he added. Legislation has also been passed to enable low-income families to access finance to build their homes and enjoy a better standard of living, the release said.

This year a budgetary allocation of $2.8B has been put towards the sector and which will allow the allocation for the 5,500 house lots will be allocated and the processing and distribution of 3,750 land titles.

According to GINA, a total of $1.1B will be spent on improving road networks and water distribution in areas such as Anna Catherina and Plantation Schoonord in Region Three and at Hope Estate, Region Four which will benefit about 700 households.

Also, under the Second Low Income Settlement Programme, $1.5B will be spent this year to start construction at six new sites including Block 8 Tuschen, Section EE Non Pariel, Ordnance/Fortlands, Number 76 Village, Five Miles Bartica and at Amelia’s Ward which will see the creation of 1,504 new house lots.

The ministry also plans to complete 80 core houses and distribute 100 subsidies to low income households this year.

This programme which will cost US$27.9 million and aims to boost the livelihoods of low-income families through better access to housing, will see the establishment of 3,768 low-income house lots to benefit 15,449 persons at the end of its implementation in 2014.