Dominica has handed over 16 climate-resilient homes in Woodford Hill as part of a programme to deliver 215 homes across nine communities.
Dominica: The Government of Dominica has officially handed over 16 modern and climate-resilient homes to families in Woodford Hill as part of its ongoing housing initiative that aims to support vulnerable families in the country.
A "Welcome Home Ceremony" was organised by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, which took place on Monday, September 14, at 03:30 p.m., in Woodford Hill, where Acting Prime Minister, Roland Royer, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Melissa Poponne-Skerrit, and Parliamentary Representative of the Wesley Constituency, Fidel Grant, and other members of Cabinet were present.
According to the Government, the 16 housing units on a 1.6-acre site have been designed and constructed to be resilient against hurricanes and earthquakes, with each unit being approximately 1,100 square feet, and includes three bedrooms, an open kitchen and a living-dining area.
"You are not just receiving a house; you have an asset that you can pass on to your children,” said Melissa Skerrit during the handover ceremony.
The Minister of Housing, welcomed the beneficiaries to their new homes, noting that this is the beginning as the Government is working towards beautifying the community and taking on more housing projects in Woodford Hill.
“We started, we decided we needed to paint the sidewalks, bring a pop of colour, beautify, find new spaces on the downstairs or certain homes which have extra space that we can build one bedrooms for others who are not able to benefit today," stated the Housing Minister.
Several beneficiaries expressed their gratitude to the Government of Dominica for their new homes. One beneficiary, Jemma Leslie, who is a single mother of three boys, shared about their past housing challenges and thanked the Government for providing her children with a safe home for them to grow up in.
“Receiving this home here is not simply receiving four walls and a roof, it is receiving peace after uncertainty, shelter after struggle, and the precious gift of knowing that my children finally have a safe place to call their own. As a single parent raising three boys, there have been many days when I carried worries quietly and wondered how I would give them the security they deserve,” Jemma stated.
Addressing the Government, she further added, "You have not only changed where we live, you have changed how we face tomorrow. Thank you for giving my children not only a house, but a home and for giving our family a new beginning."
This handover forms part of the Government’s commitment to deliver 215 homes and apartment units to families across nine communities over the next two months. It builds on the recent handover of 11 homes to families at Canefield East on September 4.