News item | 15-01-2024 | 14:47
Significant steps have been taken in the past year to create more affordable housing and make living cheaper on Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba. This is evident from the first Progress Report of the Policy Agenda for Housing and Spatial Planning for the Caribbean Netherlands, which State Secretary Alexandra van Huffelen is sending to the House of Representatives today. The 2023 progress report shows developments per island since the start of the implementation of the policy agenda in 2023.
Increasing the standard of living and combating poverty on Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba are important goals for the National Government and the Public Entities of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba. An affordable house is an important part of a good life. That is why these parties are jointly committed to building more affordable homes and lowering housing costs for people with the lowest incomes. A new spatial development program will better protect everything beautiful and unique on land and sea.
Bonaire: housing deal provides 2,125 affordable homes
On Bonaire a housing deal signed. This is good for a total of 2,125 affordable new homes up to and including 2030, of which 445 are already being built. In addition, rental burden relief was implemented for the social rental sector (an average of $265 per month per household) and as a pilot for the private rental sector (an average of $445 per month per household). The liberalization limit has also been adjusted: from $750 to $937. This allows more tenants to appeal to the Rent Assessment Committee in the social and private sectors. The national government is making €990,000 available to install solar panels with battery storage on 118 new FCB social rental homes.
St. Eustatius: rental costs reduction for 100 households
On St. Eustatius, Letter of Intent Social Housing provides direction for the construction of 50 social rental homes and the renovation of 100 social rental homes. In addition, $399,000 in landlord subsidy has been provided to reduce the personal contribution in the social rental sector. This concerns about 100 households in social housing that will pay an average of $333 less per month. It is also being investigated how people with a modest income who are forced to rent privately can be entitled to landlord subsidies.
To combat energy poverty, the central government is making €450,000 available to reduce energy costs. This means that each social rental home will be equipped with four solar panels, so that the energy collected during the day will immediately reduce the tenants’ energy bills.
Saba: accelerated construction and energy-efficient appliances
On Saba, the signing of a Letter of Intent for, among other things, the development of 50 affordable rental and owner-occupied homes. In addition, €1.2 million has been made available for the accelerated construction of 18 social rental homes by housing association Bazalt Wonen in the Under the Hill-2 project. These homes will be completed in the first quarter of 2024.
Saba has a strong tradition of private housing construction. But the costs for preparation work are very high and are usually not covered by a mortgage. That is why there will be an island scheme whereby people can receive a contribution to finance the preparatory work necessary for the construction of their own home. Consider excavation work and the construction of a cistern, septic tank and foundation.
The rental burden reduction achieved in the social rental sector on Saba amounts to an average of $158 per month per household. To tackle energy poverty, €360,000 has been made available to reduce housing costs. This provides energy-efficient household appliances such as refrigerators, freezers and stoves to people with the lowest incomes.
The foundation has been laid
The 2023 Progress Report shows that a lot has happened in the first year of implementation of the Housing and Spatial Planning Policy Agenda for the Caribbean Netherlands. The basis is there: the substantive course has been set, financial resources have been made available and the implementation capacity can be arranged. Anyone can also send a response to the Caribbean Netherlands spatial development program until February 15.
An amount of $408,000 in flex pool resources has been made available on all three islands to strengthen official capacity for public housing and spatial planning. In 2024, the outgoing cabinet and the executive councils of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba will continue to work together on affordable and pleasant living for more and more people.