Lindeners benefit from CHPA cement and steel initiative

By Abiola Archer

On Thursday during a Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) outreach at the Watooka Guest House, 28 Lindeners benefited from the steel and cement housing subsidy programme while over 100 persons are expected to receive their Agreement of Sale and sign-up for their Certificate of Title for house lots that were previously allocated. The cement and steel programme aims at assisting citizens with the materials needed for the construction of their homes. Previously, 97 vouchers were distributed to foster home ownership for persons in the region.

To acquire the voucher, persons must have a land title in their name, fill an application from the CHPA, they must have a house plan that was approved by the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LMTC) and an estimate for the house plan must be presented. Under the initiative, persons building properties estimated at $6 million or less will receive steel and one sling of cement for their foundation while those with estimates from $6 million up to $25 million will be assisted with two slings of cement.

The vouchers are valued at approximately $225,000 each and can only be redeemed at suppliers in the region, namely, Bolo’s Variety Store and Furniture World, CB Roofing Inc./ Chetram Brothers Group, S&J Cambio Variety Store and Mac Rae construction & Auto Repairs. Meanwhile, persons who were given the opportunity to sign up for their agreement of sales were persons who were allocated a land and would have paid 50 percent of the cost along with processing fee.

One beneficiary is 60-year-old Carol Martin of Blue Berry Hill, Wismar, Linden who said she is extremely grateful for the initiative and remained optimistic that she would benefit after submitting an application. “I have my land many years now but because of being a single mother, I was unable to build, I focus on my children all these years so now I am able to build, I am happy for the assistance to start,” she said.