Mother of disabled child, wheelchair-bound elderly among beneficiaries of hinterland homes

Jennifer Douglas and children stand behind their new home

The Hinterland Housing Programme is expanding support to vulnerable households in Guyana’s interior, with 30 new homes handed over in Sand Creek and Rupunau, Region Nine, during an outreach on Sunday.

Beneficiary Jennifer Douglas, a 32-year-old mother of five from Sand Creek who cares for a child living with a disability, said her family’s living conditions have significantly improved. Douglas previously lived in a small structure without proper doors or windows.

“I was struggling in my house before,” she said. Speaking about her new home, she added, “mostly it’s for my disabled little daughter, she doesn’t have [an] arm on one side”. She said she was grateful for a programme that supports families like hers.

Housing Minister Collin Croal and Minister within the Ministry of Housing Vanessa Benn handed over the keys to Douglas and other beneficiaries. They were joined by Regional Chairperson Vania Albert Allicock and Central Housing and Planning Authority engineer Cy Rodrigues.

The houses, each measuring 500 square feet, represent a $105 million investment. Built on communal land at no cost to beneficiaries, the units were constructed using locally sourced clay bricks, timber and labour, providing an economic boost to the villages. Village Councils selected households deemed most vulnerable.

Among the recipients was 89-year-old Manoel Jacobs of Sand Creek, who uses a wheelchair. His daughter and caregiver, Celia Jacobs, said, “Now he get this big house he glad to get this,” noting his previous home made mobility difficult.

In Rupunau, father of ten Flavian Thomas said the new home marked a significant change for his family. “My children are more comfortable than before,” he said.

Croal said 120 homes have been completed in Region Nine under the initiative, which he described as delivering on a commitment made by President Mohamed Irfaan Ali. He also highlighted ongoing upgrades to health, education and infrastructure across the region.

Benn congratulated the beneficiaries and outlined the wider benefits of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030. She said Sand Creek receives $24 million annually under the Forest Carbon Credit Programme, while Rupunau receives $18 million, funding projects identified through Village Sustainability Plans.

She said the LCDS ensures hinterland communities receive direct benefits from national development measures.