Trinidad and Tobago: Urban Upgrading and Revitalization Programme provides assistance with home construction, assures PNM

Trinidad and Tobago: The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, under the Urban Upgrading and Revitalization Programme, provides funding to assist families with home construction and home improvement works.

Home Construction Subsidies are provided up to $50,000.00 to help construct a new housing solution. Housing solutions range from starter homes in the region of $150,000 to a complete housing solution of up to $300,000 in Trinidad or $350,000 in Tobago.

Home Improvement Subsidies are provided up to $20,000.00 per beneficiary household. The subsidy will be issued on a matching basis (equal contribution by the beneficiary). Expansion and renovation work to provide maximum health and safety benefits, such as roofing, flooring, the addition of rooms, conversion of wooden structures to concrete, and electrical, plumbing and sanitary works, are covered under this subsidy.

According to The People’s National Movement, around 25 families in Trinidad and Tobago were awarded grants to help them in providing shelter. The families received around $20,000 or $50,000 on Wednesday at a Ministry of Housing, Port of Spain function.

Housing Minister Camille Robinson-Regis, in her feature address, said that many studies have shown a lack of suitable housing often leads to lower income-generating opportunities, lower educational attainment for children, and a range of other negative implications for the wider society. Therefore, the Government was committed to providing appropriate housing solutions, particularly to the most vulnerable.

She said beneficiaries came from areas such as North Oropouche Road, Barataria, Longdenville, Tarouba North, La Horquetta, Tacarigua, Edinburgh 500, Morvant, Arima, Diego Martin, St Augustine, Mt Lambert, Tunapuna and Biche.