Some 500 citizens are now new homeowners after the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) held its first random draw yesterday at its headquarters, South Quay, Port-of-Spain. The new owners will be added to a list of 100 other applicants chosen this week to receive their houses in Greenville, La Horquetta.
The 500 names were drawn from the HDC’s database with assistance from auditors from KPMG, who were engaged to witness and supervise the draw. The names will be published on Sunday (April 19) and the processing will commence next month, the HDC said following the draw.
The draw was televised live with the names of the homeowners being displayed after it was selected from the database. Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal said the draw was part of Government’s commitment to citizens to work on improving the efficiency and transparency of the HDC’s housing allocation system. He said 100 keys have been handed out weekly this past month and the exercise would continue through this year. However, he said the criteria was changed to allow more citizens greater accessibility.
“We will move within the next few months for another draw for everyone to have the opportunity. We still have names from the last random draw; some are still bringing documents,” he said. During his speech, Moonilal reiterated that some HDC homeowners were in arrears of over $291 million, adding the money could have bene used to construct more low income units.
“I am sure we can put some structure in place so they can pay and we are appealing to those with mortgage arrangements to be responsible, be responsible and pay. We won’t evict them in an inhumane way,” he said. He said government housing is heavily subsidised and there were initiatives available through the TTMF to make financing accessible.
Criteria for HDC houses
• Citizens of T&T, residing in T&T for five years.
• You must be 21 years and over.
• You must not be owner/part owner of land/property in T&T.
• You must be first time homeowners.
• The monthly income of the applicant(s) must not exceed $45,000.