Belize City Woman Receives New House from Ministry of Housing

A woman whose house collapsed received a new one from the Ministry of Housing. Margaret McDougall had been living in the decrepit structure for the better part of twenty years and one day it went crashing to the ground, leaving her with no choice but to share space with a sister.  Today, McDougall got her new house, right in time for her upcoming birthday this weekend. Here are highlights from that handing over late this evening.

Julius Espat

Julius Espat, Minister of Housing & Infrastructure Development

“What we are doing, ladies and gentlemen is changing lives, one at a time. That is what is special about this project – changing of individual lives. You now, ma’am, have a house, shelter above your head that you have no worries about. That is what we want – to make sure that the people that have the need have access to something that they can hold close to their heart, something that they can take to the bank, something that you can use to better and empower your life.”

Marisa Alamilla, PR Officer, Ministry of Housing

“This is on the pilot project. This is not on the housing scheme that will be presented in the next fiscal year. So these houses – you pay a portion of it back for ten years.”

Marisa Alamilla

Marion Ali

“And for the working class now, let’s say that I would like a house or an extension on mine…”

Marisa Alamilla

“Well, the extensions we haven’t opened that yet, where it comes with the working class.  We are looking at National Bank and D.F.C. to open avenues for those applications to be vetted. At [the Ministry of] Housing we are dealing strictly with the criteria that I told you – single parent, unemployed, self-employed because they have a lot of difficulty getting financing and disabled persons.”