The Opposition spokesman on housing, Dr Horace Chang, wants the Government to reactivate the Housing Fund to allow for the development of housing solutions for poor inner city residents and rural Jamaicans.

In his contribution to the Budget debate yesterday, Chang called for $2 billion to be redirected from the National Budget towards the Housing Fund.

According to him, this would bring relief to about 1,000 low-income families.

Chang also said, the project, which he dubbed ‘Procure and Build’, would see low-income persons being provided with a mortgage of about $3 million at an interest rate of two per cent to build their own homes.

He says the mortgage would cover the cost of the housing lot as well as building material and .

According to Chang, the Housing Fund allows for 60-year mortgages which would mean more manageable repayments for low-income persons.

Chang is also proposing that beneficiaries be given a pre-approved plans and land titles.

He said communities should be supported by enterprise activities from both government and non-profit organisations.

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