Hanover residents can’t afford NHT homes, says housing official
LUCEA, Hanover — About 6,000 people in Hanover need homes but their low income-levels are hampering their efforts to access houses through the National Housing Trust, says head of the NHT’s Lucea branch, Alwyn Haynes.
“There is a need for housing in Hanover. At present, 6,000 of the over 60,000 persons in the parish require housing solutions but only 1,800 meet NHT’s requirements,” he told the Observer.
The NHT official added that any developer would be reluctant to build under those conditions.
“The income level of Hanoverians is very low,” he explained. “The majority of workers fall below the $4,500 per week income bracket. The fact is that one does not want to build houses and then it ends up that most people cannot afford it.”
As a result, Haynes said, the NHT has built only three housing developments in the parish since the 1970s. They include Esher and Orange Bay in Western Hanover and Orchard in Eastern Hanover.
“If the NHT was to acquire land to build in areas such as Point Estate and Industry Cove, which are areas where most persons propose that they would like to live, the NHT loan may not be enough,” he explained. “And persons may have to take additional loans from other lending agencies.”
Meanwhile he said, he is optimistic that if investors should come to the parish, joint ventures could be entered into with other organisations to undertake housing developments for community members.