$5 house spot project in works

The National Housing Corporation (NHC) will soon unveil additional programmes  for low-income earners looking  for houses and land.Minister of Housing and Lands, Michael Lashley made  the disclosure yesterday while launching a training programme  for NHC and ministry staff.He said the programmes  would benefit “people who cannot afford a mortgage” or to purchase land at the current high  market prices.The programmes will lend diversity to a portfolio that includes provision of $5 house spots and  a low rent programme, according  to Lashley.The minister made the comments at the start of a workshop  at the NHC’s Country Road,  St Michael headquarters focusing on the “incremental home construction programme”.That programme is an element  of the housing and neighbourhood upgrade project that will transform the face of low-income districts  Allen View, St Thomas, as well  as Cats Castle, Greenfields and Garden Land in St Michael.Lashley said there had been  a flood of inquiries from the public about the upgrade project, which would provide hundreds of subsidies for home improvement.According to the minister,  the plan is to provide a maximum subsidy of $10 000 for low-income families to carry out repairs.The money goes directly  to companies providing building materials and a list of these companies was now being  drawn up, Lashley said.He also said Government was now dealing with the legal vesting of some plots with a view  to offering prospective low income home-owners plots at between  $15 000 and $17 000.  (TY)