PRESS RELEASE MINISTRY OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT OF HOUSING RE-CONSTRUCTION The Ministry of Social Development is pleased to share with you, the general public, information pertaining to ongoing developments to address the housing needs of our citizens. As shared in our last communication, the Government of Grenada proposes to construct 10,000 homes for low income families during the next five years. In this regard our Emergency Housing Committee (EHC) has reviewed several humanitarian and business housing proposals. Concrete developments include, for example:- Commencement of the construction of model low income houses in selected parishes and the establishment of a model house demonstration village in Frequente. Construction of 100 homes by the Government of Venezuela in the Parish of St. David, to commence demonstration house December 2004. The construction of 500 low income homes and re-roofing of 500 homes by the Seventh Day Adventist Church. The programme commenced November, 2004. 2000 homes from UN Habitat 1st Phase to commence early 2005. Cognizant of the plight of our people and the post traumatic stress experienced by them, the Ministry has initiated the following programmes to alleviate some of their sufferings and to bring some measure of comfort and hope to their lives. Assessment of priority housing needs and commencement of low income home construction for the most vulnerable groups. Government has agreed to construct 225 houses, during the period November 2004 to January 2005 for those families. Site preparations for construction have commenced. A Grant Facility has been established to repair one thousand one hundred and twenty-five roofs (1,125) at a maximum of $5000.00 per roof during the period November 2004 to January 2005. To further meet the housing needs of vulnerable and low income groups in the parishes most severely affected by the Hurricane, other specific developmental programmes/projects have commenced in all those affected areas. For example - the identification of Crown Lands and the establishment of a broad based Committee to address the relocation of persons living in high risk areas such as Marquis and Soubise. Government has also agreed to facilitate a Soft Loan programme for public officers and private sector employees whose properties were not insured or whose insurance payments were inadequate. More details will be made available on the progress of these developments in the near future. Ministry of Social Development 26th November, 2004 St. George’s