NHE should not be profit driven when delivering houses: |Goagoses

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Deputy Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Nathalia |Goagoses said the National Housing Enterprise (NHE) should not be profit driven when delivering houses, because they were established to cater to low and middle income earners.

|Goagoses made these remarks on Monday while handing over 40 houses constructed by NHE through a public private partnership agreement at Okakarara in the Otjozondjupa Region.

In a statement availed to Nampa, |Goagoses said NHE and the private sector should package housing units for the ultra-low income group because that is the only way NHE can help government address the housing crisis, because giving land and houses that are highly priced to individuals who cannot afford it is counterproductive to government efforts to provide affordable housing.

“Our challenge in Namibia is for the ultra-low and low income earners, they experience difficulties in accessing loans from financial institutions due to lack of collateral and low income base, thus being marginalised in terms of access to affordable and adequate housing. I therefore appeal to councillors to avail land for the ultra-low income group housing, and encourage NHE and the private sector to not be profit driven, but to package a housing unit for the ultra-low income group,” said |Goagoses.

She added that the ministry will also hand over 72 NHE constructed houses at Karibib next week and 77 in Keetmanshoop next month, while a similar project is currently underway in Omuthiya.

Speaking at the same occasion, NHE board chairperson Sam Shivute in a speech read on his behalf said NHE is committed to creating healthy communities with the provision of affordable, well-designed houses for the growth and development of low to middle-income families that find it difficult and sometimes impossible to acquire houses constructed strictly by private developers.

“A partnership like this one which delivered these 40 houses should be appreciated. I encourage public and private sector players in housing matters to work with NHE in transforming our society through these types of symbiotic and synergistic partnerships. We acknowledge the commitment and dedication from the various stakeholders for teaming up with us in delivering these houses to the community of this town,” said Shivute.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency