2014 STATE OF NATION (30) HOUSING 122. To increase access to housing and promote socio-economic development, Government has allocated 1,844 out of a target of 6,786 plots on state land and 26,069 plots for various uses in tribal land across the country. To further promote access to housing for the low income group, Government has funded a total of 3,553 SHHA Home Improvement projects for implementation by local authorities. 123. Government has also funded 2,151 SHHA Turnkey projects for implementation by District Councils. In 2012/13 the Turnkey Development Scheme was transferred to the Botswana Housing Corporation and 2,000 projects are now being funded under this arrangement. Progress has been hampered by the high cost of material. It was therefore recognised that the maximum, P60,000, loan was insufficient; causing us to review our loan ceilings. 124. The Integrated Poverty Alleviation and Housing Scheme continues to assist Batswana to earn allowances and build houses through project self-help. 125. Government also recognises the need for public officers’ housing needs. The Botswana Housing Corporation (BHC) thus started construction of district housing units during the Financial Year 2013/14. BHC has further delivered 712 houses countrywide. Of these, 575 were for third party projects. Since June 2014 BHC has started identifying plots for an additional 540 houses to be built under the Public Officers Housing Initiative. 126. Government has developed a new National Housing Strategy that includes initiatives such as the Social Housing Programme targeting the less privileged and disadvantaged. Some of the main features of the programme include: • Instalment Purchase Scheme; and • Low cost Youth apartments. 127. In an effort to provide shelter for the needy, Government will construct a total of 463 houses in the 2014/2015 financial year. These houses will benefit people at the Remote Area Settlements as well as in villages where people have been assessed and approved as destitute persons. Districts have started the building of these houses. At the same time 420 houses have already been built through generous contributions to the Presidential Housing Appeal. #SONA
Posted on: Thu, 13 Nov 2014 13:50:48 +0000
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