Government launches programmes to supply affordable, quality homes to TCI residents

To address the housing shortage and barriers to homeownership, improve the living conditions of existing homeowners and renew communities across the islands, the TCI Government recently launched its National Housing Policy.

The Ministry of Physical Planning and Infrastructural Development (PPID) unveiled the National Housing Policy and three short to medium-term Programs at a launch event on Thursday, July 27, 2023, at Brayton Hall Venetian Road Providenciales.

The event was well attended by members of the government, cooperate community, and civil society.

Speaking at the launch, Minister of Physical Planning and Infrastructural Development (PPID) Hon Jamell Robinson, described the milestone as a “proud moment” for the Turks and Caicos Islands.

He said: “We recognise the lack of housing options, the lack of quality homes and at affordable rates, and that this deficiency was experienced on all islands and was needed at all income levels throughout the population.

“ In our quest to develop sustainable communities and provide quality housing for all this progressive government, the People's Government began by building a dedicated team to examine the housing needs developed and approved the housing the National Housing Policy Framework, as well as committed $3 million to implement the initial housing programs.”

Robinson stressed that a “safe and secure home” is every citizens’ right.

“ Homeowners, landowners and those keen on their own first home will be supported by this government with each of these programmes that are being offered.”

He underscored that by providing more affordable housing units to the legal residents of the TCI, the government is aiming to reduce the expansion of informal settlements and illegal housing developments.

Robinson further disclosed that the National Housing Policy is also replete with medium to long-term plans for the future of housing in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

He said: ‘The following programs will be further developed in the months and years to come; “Inclusion inclusionary zoning, this program will require developers to designate a percentage of housing or development to low to moderateincome households, large-scale housing schemes through publicprivate partnerships.”

In an effort to manage public and private funding related to housing, a National Housing Authority will be established to foster greater collaboration with developers, contractors, and other stakeholders to facilitate housing programs that include subsidies, government guarantees interest rates, and other credit management schemes.

Robinson said: “We will also consider creating a housing a National Housing Trust to pilot these programs, a Help to Buy scheme is another measure you can expect to see delivered in the second phase of this policy.”

This program will specifically assist first-time homeowners who are unable to assess affordable mortgage loans due to insufficient deposits.

Human Right

Premier Washington Misick during his remarks, emphasised that adequate housing is a human right enshrined in international human rights law, and his Government is endeavoring to deliver on a promise made in its manifesto in this regard.

He said: “It is said that a man's home is his castle, but a man doesn't have to have a castle to have a home, and so what we're addressing here, the provision of homes for everyone who has a legal right to be in this country.

‘The United Nations, I think in article 25 speaks to adequate housing, affordability, adequacy, and other classifications.

“My government in the party's manifesto has made it clear that the habit of giving people a piece of dirt stops here, our plan is to give people keys instead of dirt roads, and unfinished settlements, our focus is on building safe communities for all of our people to live in and that is the genesis of our housing policy.”

Housing Demand

The demand for housing has exploded in recent years, leading to a severe housing shortage in the territory, Dominique Durham, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development who gave an overview of the programmes said the 2012 census provided an alarming statistic, that at the time, only 11% of Turks and Caicos Islands were homeowners.

He said: “We've reviewed the current population policy report, which predicted that population by 2040 is expected to be 70,000 thus exemplifying the immediate demand.

“We've also reviewed the National Physical Development Plan 2020 to 2030, which produces the demand that we will be needing up to 13,000 new homes in the next two decades…would have heard Mr. Williams from planning mentioned 650 homes per year for the next 20 years, that is the current demand.”

He pointed out that a national housing needs survey was undertaken to provide data that would help the Government to better understand the housing crisis.

“The respondents of that survey provided that majority of households spend more than 50% of their income on housing expenses, now as a rule of thumb, especially in America, if you are spending more than 30% of your household income on housing needs that is deemed not affordable.

“ Here we are in the Turks and Caicos spending more than 50%