Six families on the East Coast of Demerara are celebrating a fresh start as they received the keys to brand new Core Homes, provided under the Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility Programme (AHUAP), funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). These homes, a symbol of comfort and security, were officially handed over by the Minister of Housing and Water, Hon. Collin Croal, and Minister within the Ministry, Hon. Susan Rodrigues, accompanied by CHPA-Deputy Director of Community Development Mrs. Donell Bess-Bascom and the engineering team.
The recipients of these homes include Ms. Zillah Ramcharran of Hope, Ms. Sumintra Persaud of Lusignan, Ms. Kalowtie Sukdai of Good Hope, Ms. Julie Beckles of Mon Repos, Ms. Bhagwandai Samaroo of Mon Repos, and Ms. Michelle Moses of Pattenson. These individuals now join the growing number of East Coast residents whose lives have been transformed through this initiative. To date, 21 homes have been handed over on the East Coast, contributing to the 127 Core Homes completed so far under the AHUAP.
For Core Homes, each beneficiary was required to contribute $100,000 toward the cost of their new home. Each home has two bedrooms, a kitchen, and indoor sanitary facilities, valued at $5 million. All beneficiaries were selected during a preceding application period, which is now closed.
Previously, the initiative’s boundary extended only to La Bonne Intention on the East Coast of Demerara. However, it was later expanded to include 19 additional communities, reaching as far as Hope. Minister Croal highlighted that this expansion to the lower East Coast has provided most of these families with the opportunity to become homeowners.
“It is pleasing to be a part of this programme because […] of the satisfaction of being able to provide a home, a comfortable environment, a transformation from where some persons were occupying,” remarked Minister Croal.
Minister Rodrigues also highlighted the broader impact of the AHUAP on vulnerable Guyanese families.
“It aims to ensure that we deliver adequate housing, basic infrastructure and to improve the overall quality of life for low-income populations,” she said.
The personal stories of the beneficiaries underscore the profound impact of the AHUAP. Ms. Zillah Ramcharran expressed her gratitude, sharing that the new home is a blessing after losing her husband and struggling with unemployment.
For elderly recipient Ms. Kalowtie Sukdai, the Core Home offers a safe and dignified living space, a significant improvement from the dilapidated structure she occupied at the front of her yard without access to proper washroom facilities. Ms. Sukdai’s son, Mr. Kamal Ramjit, expressed his relief, saying, “It gon’ help make it easier for she, like when she go toilet and bathroom.”
Ms. Michelle Moses, who will be moving into her new home with her son, was overcome with emotion as she received her keys, marking the start of a new chapter for her family. She is currently living with and caring for her father and is happy to have a place of her own.
The AHUAP continues to make strides, with 323 beneficiaries selected from Regions Three and Four. Currently, 188 homes are in the procurement phase, and several are under construction. The programme also includes the Home Improvement Subsidy initiative, which has distributed over 900 subsidies to assist low-income Guyanese in upgrading their homes.