TCI Housing programs oversubscribed

Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer 

#TurksandCaicos, November 10, 2023 – More residents than expected have come forward for a chance at Government assistance with their houses resulting in an oversubscription of the two newest housing programs according to the Ministry of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development (PPID).

In an October 28th update the ministry informed that both the Home Improvement Program for Existing Homeowners and  Community Renewal and Infilling programs are closed, emphasizing the sheer number of applications received.

Housing has long been an issue in the Turks and Caicos Islands with residents complaining of high rent and mortgage prices and too few comparable options.

The Home Improvement Program for Existing Homeowners is billed to provide a $50,000 grant for islanders to refurbish their homes with priority given to the vulnerable.

The Community Renewal and Infilling Program is more comprehensive and will fund construction of new homes and rehabilitation of damaged ones for needy residents.

The deadline for the programs had already been extended to September after their July launch. Now the program will move into the assessment phase, looking at homes to figure out the neediest residents and giving out approvals.

For residents who missed this round, Jamell Robinson, Minister of PPID while speaking to Magnetic Media had assured that the government expected to spend the first budget allocation without issue and restart the program when more money was procured.

The programs are part of the country’s newly launched Housing Policy.