DEVELOPMENT AGENDA PRIORITY O: Affordable Housing solutions for all.
About priority O
- Affordable housing for all will ensure that all Tobagonians have access to housing solutions designed to meet existing demands and needs while also considering future demands and needs based on population growth and household formation rates.
- Needs are emphasized in addition to demand because, given the price of housing services in the Tobago economy, many citizens and residents are unable to participate in an open housing market. Therefore, the current Tobago House of Assembly will focus on market and non-market housing solutions.
- Non-market solutions will focus on funding the housing needs of middle and low-income households in Tobago.
- Market solutions will cater to Tobagonians who can purchase housing services at open-market rates.
- This approach is pragmatic and achievable.
Primary performance benchmark: Priority O
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Benchmark: Invest at least 15% of GDP equivalent annually in affordable housing and land solutions from 2026 to 2045.
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Percent GDP equivalent invested in affordable housing and land solutions, year-over-year.
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Benchmark country: OECD.
Major concerns: Priority O.
| Concerns | Problem Statements |
| Non-market demand | a. High demand for non-market housing solutions. |
| Market demand | b. Low demand for market housing solutions. |
| Housing and population growth | c. Insufficient policy focus on the linkages between housing needs and demand with economic and population growth projections. |
| Regional planning and housing | d. Insufficient policy focus on the linkages between urban and regional planning and plans for housing. |
| In situ housing solutions | e. Insufficient attention to in situ housing solutions. |
1.0 Selected Focus Areas Priority O?
The Division of Public Utilities, Housing and Rural Development will collaborate with the Division of Health, Wellness and Social Protection to prioritize affordable housing solutions for all Tobagonians by focusing on the following areas:
- Subsidized Housing:
- First-Time Home Ownership: Provide financial support for down payments to assist first-time buyers in purchasing homes, making homeownership more accessible.
- Alternative and Affordable Housing Solutions
- Modular and Prefab Homes: Leverage modular and prefab homes to offer economical and efficient living options for low-income families. These homes are quicker to build and cost-effective.
- Affordable Housing Prototypes: Reconfigure and rethink traditional single-storey family homes to create more affordable and efficient housing options.
- Land Affordability Scheme: Provide land to landless citizens at subsidized rates. Lands will be developed with the necessary arrangements to facilitate the construction of housing units within a 1–to 2-year period.
- Financial Support and Grants:
- Quick Grant Process: Implement a quick grant process for daily-rated workers, single mothers, and other vulnerable groups needing short-term housing support.
- Home Improvement Subsidy (In-situ): Provide between TT$25,000 and TT$50,000 per beneficiary household to assist families with necessary home improvements, ensuring existing homes remain safe and habitable.
- Public-Private Partnerships:
- Leveraging Private Sector Expertise and Innovation: Harness the expertise and innovation of the private sector to design, finance, and implement affordable housing projects. This can lead to more efficient and cost-effective open market solutions compared to traditional public sector approaches.
- Pre-construction: Using a pre-construction model, provide fully developed houses or service lots at market rates to eligible homeowners. This will enable the THA or private developers to generate revenue for pre-construction design and development.
- Not-for-profit organizations: Collaborate with Not-for-Profit organizations to raise funds and provide housing solutions for the most vulnerable families.
- External International Funding: Secure loans and funding from international organizations, such as the IDB, to support low-income housing projects and enhance housing quality.
- Community Engagement and Education:
- Public Awareness Campaigns: Conduct campaigns to educate communities about affordable housing options, financial support programs, and the benefits of sustainable housing solutions.
- Infrastructure Development:
- Sustainable Construction Practices: Promote and encourage the adoption of green building standards and sustainable construction practices to reduce the environmental impact of the building and construction industry.
- Retrofitting Existing Buildings: Implement programs to retrofit existing housing units with energy-efficient technologies and renewable energy systems.
- Inclusive Housing Solutions:
- Social housing: Ensure housing solutions cater to all population demographics, including individuals with disabilities.
- Disaster Resilience and Preparedness:
- Resilient Housing Design: Promote the construction of disaster-resistant housing to mitigate the impacts of natural disasters and climate-related hazards, ensuring that affordable housing remains safe and habitable.
- Vulnerability Assessments: Conduct island-wide disaster vulnerability assessments for public and private housing to enhance disaster preparedness capabilities.
MAIN REFERENCE INFORMATION
- Affordable housing, quick grant process coming for Tobagonians
- The housing needs in Trinidad and Tobago
- Affordable Social Housing for Low-Income in Trinidad and Tobago
- The Housing Need in Trinidad and Tobago & Habitat’s Programme Priorities
- IDB funds low-income housing in Trinidad and Tobago May 01, 2002
- Public-private partnerships: Key to Caribbean recovery
- How to Provide Affordable Housing in the Caribbean
- An Assessment of Housing Affordability in Trinidad & Tobago
- CENTRAL STATISTICAL OFFICE; Ministry of Planning and Development: Household Budgetary Survey (HBS)
Targets and Indicators of Progress/Success
Target-O-1
Provide a suite of affordable housing solutions to at least 50% of eligible households by 2035, and at least 75% by 2045.
Indicator-O-1
Supply of affordable housing solutions to eligible households year-over-year.
Target-O-2
Provide affordable land solutions to at least 50% of eligible households by 2035, and at least 75% by 2045.
Indicator-O-2
Supply of affordable land solutions to eligible households year-over-year.
Target-O-3
Provide social housing solutions to at least 50% of eligible households by 2035, and to at least 90% by 2045.
Indicator-O-3
Supply of social housing solutions to eligible households year-over-year.
Target-O-4
Provide in situ housing assistance to at least 50% of eligible households by 2035 and to at least 90% by 2045.
Indicator-O-4
Supply of in-situ housing assistance to eligible households year-over-year.
Target-O-5
Ensure household expenditure on housing solutions is not greater than 40% of the gross median household income by 2035 and no greater than 30% by 2045.
Indicator-O-5
Household expenditure on housing solutions year-over-year.
