BELVEDERE--St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation (SMHDF) will soon have an apartment complex with four affordable units available for young professionals and/or recent university graduates returning to the country after studies aboard. Construction is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2016.
The Foundation recently signed a construction contract with Alick Magloire’s Nice and Easy Construction for the one-bedroom apartments. The unit will “be equipped with ultra-modern fittings,” said Housing Foundation Interim Managing Directors Errol Neuman and Helen Salomons.
The cost of the complex is NAf. 400,000. The contract was awarded to Nice and Easy Construction after an open bidding process.
“On the basis of the set awarding criteria and considering the most economical, it was awarded to Nice and Easy Construction,” said the Foundation representatives. “We must ensure people can get accommodation that meets their needs both in terms of quality and cost.”
The project was funded by the Foundation’s internal financing as social housing is not financed through commercial loans.
SMHDF cannot continue financing social housing on its own, said the representatives. “The input of Government is urgently needed as the four social units being constructed by far outweigh the housing demand. Government has to provide the SMHDF with the tools to provide affordable housing for the ones in dire need as Government is ultimately responsible and accountable for shelter,” said the representatives.
A total of 456 persons are on the waiting list for affordable, social housing.
