The Programme Monitoring, Coordinating and Evaluation Unit (PMCEU) of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development administers the ‘Urban Upgrading and Revitalisation Programme’ (UURP), a six year US$50M Loan Programme Agreement between the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) and the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (GoRTT).
The general objective of the Programme is to contribute to the improvement of the quality of the urban built environment.
The Specific Objectives:
(i) improve the habitability in urban settlements on State-owned lands;
(ii) improve the physical quality and economic performance of urban public spaces;
(iii) enhance housing conditions for low income households;
(iv) strengthen the capacity of supply side stakeholders to satisfy effective housing demand.
To improve the quality of life of low-income households and increase the vitality of urban areas.
To improve the living and housing conditions of low and middle income persons through infrastructural upgrades of squatter settlements, providing home improvement subsidies and facilitating incremental construction or purchase of affordable quality housing.
The Urban Upgrading and Revitalization Programme (UURP) comprises 4 components:
Component 1 – Urban Residential Infrastructure: To upgrade living conditions in informal settlements on State lands or to develop, planned residential sub-divisions in well located State-owned greenfield sites, for systematic allocation to low-income households.
Component 2 – Urban Regeneration: With an emphasis on improving the physical quality and economic performance of urban public spaces and facilities.
Component 3 – Affordable Housing Subsidies: To improve habitability for low-income households through reducing the qualitative and quantitative housing deficits, as well as sustainability of the built environment.
Component 4 – Strengthening of Housing and Urban Development Sector Stakeholders’ Capacities: To address the medium-term housing and sustainable urban development needs of the country.
Component 3 – Affordable Housing Subsidies
Home Improvement Subsidy (HIS):
The Home Improvement Subsidy provides funding of up to TT$20,000 per beneficiary household, to assist families with needed home improvements. These include: expansion and renovations, with an emphasis on those renovations that provide maximum health and safety benefits, such as roofing, conversion of earthen or wooden floors to concrete, conversion of wooden structures to bricks, the addition of rooms, electrical works, plumbing and sanitary works. This subsidy will be issued on a matching basis.
Home Construction Subsidy (HCS):
This subsidy offers successful applicants, financial assistance of up to $50,000.00 to construct a home valued no more than $300,000.00 in Trinidad and $350,000.00 in Tobago.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Applicants must meet the following criteria in order to qualify for the subsidy: -Household income must not exceed $10,000.00 per month
- Citizen and Residents of Trinidad and Tobago
- Must have sufficient contribution to complete repairs/construction or purchase.
- Must provide proof of ownership or permission from owner to repair/purchase or construct on property
- Must not have benefited from any housing subsidy offered by the Ministry and its Agencies