Housing Minister Collin Croal has announced that Budget 2026 will introduce direct financial support for home construction and home upgrades, as the Government expands its housing programme to assist more Guyanese in completing and improving their homes.
The Housing Minister made the announcement during a social media address in which he outlined the Government’s five-year plan for the housing sector. The initiative will build on existing measures, including the steel and cement programme, and is aimed particularly at supporting low-income households and first-time homeowners.
“From the budget commencing from Budget 2026, [Guyana will see] another initiative or programme that speaks towards direct financial assistance for home construction and home upgrades,” Croal said.
The Minister noted that the Government has already started laying the foundation for this type of assistance. Reflecting on previous initiatives, he pointed to the steel and cement programme, which was introduced to assist persons who were ready to begin construction but had not yet started building.
Drawing on that programme, Croal explained that applicants were required to meet specific criteria before qualifying for assistance.
“No doubt one can continue to see much more on this initiative, but in addition to that, I want to say that on the steel and cement programme, for example, we have over the last two years, two to three years max, disbursed on the steel and cement initiative over $3.25 billion, and we’ve disbursed over $750 million,” he said.
Croal explained that the planned financial assistance for home construction and upgrades stems directly from repeated requests made by residents during community outreaches. He said that during visits to housing areas, officials often encounter homeowners who have received land allocations or ownership documents but lack the financial resources to complete their homes.
According to the Minister, many residents have requested limited assistance to complete essential aspects of their homes, including steps, windows, walls, or repairs to leaking roofs. He also mentioned that the programme will be supported by assessments to determine eligibility, with clear criteria guiding the process.
Croal added that the initiative will be rolled out in an aggressive manner beginning with Budget 2026.
Several requests, he noted, have also been channelled through community-based groups such as Men on Mission (MOM), which conduct their own assessments of individuals who are unable to complete construction due to financial constraints.
The Minister also highlighted that the direct financial assistance initiative is not the only housing measure planned for 2026. He said the Government will place increased focus on fully built, move-in-ready (turnkey) houses in response to growing demand.
“And what we have now is a huge demand of persons who are coming through these doors and are seeking what they normally call turnkey houses versus just the [land] allocations. And we want to respond to that because the demand, as I said, with persons preferring more homes, as a responsible Government, we have that mandate to respond to increasing requests or to revise our work programme in keeping with what the electorate are seeking,” Croal said. He added that construction of these houses is expected to commence in 2026, with areas already identified for development. “So in those houses, one can expect in 2026, starting in 2026, we have identified some of the areas for the construction of those houses, so the engagement with the responses on the EOI (Expression of Interest) will commence,” he said.
Croal further disclosed that more than 268 responses were received through an EOI for the construction of houses, noting that the initiative will also provide economic benefits. “And as I said, there are over 268 responses that came in from that expression of interest for the construction of houses. And in addition to responding, as I said, to a need, it’s also an economic benefit for everyone, for the country. Once you have construction, then you have various sectors and individuals and companies that benefit,” he added.
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