Mickela Panday
Currently in T&T, there are approximately 200,000 applicants seeking government housing from the Housing Development Corporation (HDC). So it came as no surprise when Communications Minister Mr Maxie Cuffie announced the maximum qualifying income for a HDC house had been reduced from $45,000 to $25,000 a month; there was public outcry from the thousands who now fell outside this income bracket.
In effect, this change in policy meant, as of Thursday, November 19, 2015, people who had previously applied for government subsidised housing on the basis of a joint monthly income of $45,000 were no longer eligible and would be taken off the list.
In the face of criticism, the Prime Minister defended his Government's decision saying, "the policy is the State ought not, especially in strained circumstances where money is scarce, to set about to provide subsidised housing for upper income people in the country. It just does not make sense. It is just not fair." In response, the Opposition People's Partnership threatened a legal challenge unless the policy change was reviewed, describing the change as "autocratic, draconian and illegal," warning, "it would result in costly litigation to the State."
In light of these statements, I think it is safe to say both this Government and its predecessor acknowledge there is a housing issue in T&T that needs to be addressed, but neither is willing to admit their solution to simply lower or increase the qualifying income ceiling on its own, is simply not enough to benefit the nation's most needy.
It is common knowledge regardless of the income ceiling, over the last 15 years, the housing crisis, like crime has been used as a political football. Whether it is holding the citizenry to ransom during the election season by giving out keys with much pomp and ceremony or bypassing the process and secretly giving houses to friends, family and party hacks who do not qualify, it is an undeniable fact those who are most in need, underprivileged and vulnerable are often left wanting regardless of the "official" housing policy.
If this current adminstration is serious about helping lower income citizens who cannot provide housing for themselves, it is imperative they show a genuine political will to tackle the inherent issue of corruption and nepotism that exists in the current allocation and distribution of housing, by putting the necessary mechanisms in place that will ensure the entire process, from beginning to end, is transparent and accountable.
Starting with the criteria that in order to qualify to apply for a new home an applicant must be, "neither owner, nor part owner of a house or land and, a resident citizen of Trinidad and Tobago." How is this verified? What checks and balances are in place to ensure people who have been allocated housing currently reside in Trinidad and are not subletting? Does increasing or decreasing the income ceiling address these problems?
And what about the selection process if you are informed that you meet the basic qualifications. According to the current policy, "successful applicants are selected through a random computerized selection process and if you are selected, you will be contacted for an interview with the HDC for a detailed eligibility assessment."
Shouldn't the eligibility assessment come before the selection process? And what exactly does that assessment entail? How does selecting from a random computerised system ensure those who are most in need are selected? How does this process ensure transparency, accountability and fairness? The simple answer is, it does not. Hence the reason there are still those who have legitimately qualified for homes and are still waiting 15 years later.
It's not rocket science to know the entire process is flawed and lacks the transparency and accountability to give it any credibility. If those holding the reigns genuinely want to address the ongoing housing crisis, a good place to start would be to review the entire housing policy now, and not wait until they are in opposition to complain about it.