Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (Ministry of VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake on Monday secured transitional housing for Turning Point Foundation clients.
The transitional housing unit that would comprise of 12 units in one building will be part of the FOGA Housing Project to be constructed in the vicinity of the Melford Hazel Sports Complex in Suckergarden.
On Monday afternoon Minister Lake met with Turning Point Director Member of Parliament Hon. Dr. Lloyd Richardson, Peggy Ann Richardson, Henry Lynch, Director of the Sint Maarten Housing Development Foundation (SMHDF), Telson Bell, SMHDF Project Manager, and Veronica Jansen-Webster, Chef de Cabinet of Minister VROMI.
Housing is a critical area for the country and people of Sint Maarten.
"The identification of social housing is part and parcel of the Sint Maarten Housing Vision 2012-2020 Building Book that was presented by KAW Architects and Consultants back in December.
"Housing is a basic human right anchored down into international treaties. In my going back to basics approach, social housing is one of the areas that have to be developed especially for such country institutions as Turning Point which assists challenged members of our community who work to turn around their life.
"I am very pleased with the outcome of the meeting on Monday. A significant step has been made. Now the different entities have to go back to their boards to formalize with what has been decided as part of the process of open and transparent government and according to rules and regulations of the country," Minister Hon. Maurice Lake said on Monday.
The project commissioned by the Government of Sint Maarten and financed by USONA entailed a review of legislation relating to housing, and a review of the housing policy. The project objective is to increase the quality of life and living conditions of residents with low and middle incomes through policies and legislation relating to adequate and social housing.
The Building Book outlines what needs to be built; where to build; a definition of the different types of locations and (im)possibilities for realizing social housing; how to realize social housing; legislation, process per land ownership, role of government and finances; when, planning and prioritization.
PHOTO CUTLINE: L to R, Telson Bell, MP Dr. Lloyd Richardson, Peggy Ann Richardson, Minster Hon. Maurice Lake, Veronica Jansen-Webster and Henry Lynch.