Latest update September 13th, 2026 10:36 AM
Habitat briefs contractors on housing quality
Government officials, among other stakeholders, were briefed Monday on critical housing quality issues during Habitat for Humanity Guyana Inc. annual training for contractors at the National Library.
According to Habitat, with the focus on Housing Quality Standards, contractors were informed about its building process as outlined by the organization’s international body – Habitat for Humanity International.
Participants at the Habitat For Humanity workshop
Among some of the issues discussed were location – contractors must avoid building in hazardous, disease-prone or vector-infected areas. Another issue was the sourcing of materials – as far as possible, contractors should be locally acquired with the environment one in which health and other risks posed by water erosion and standing water are minimized.
“Discussions also surrounded durability, water quality and quantity, washroom access, and space,” Habitat disclosed.
During the workshop, the participants were also briefed on Habitat Guyana’s housing intervention engagements as well as the organization’s new programme model, which focuses on community development, disaster risk reduction, and social action and awareness.
The training saw participation from contractors, material suppliers, representatives from technical institutes, and the Ministry of Housing.
Beginning its work since 1994 following an invitation from then President Dr. Cheddi Jagan, Habitat for Humanity Guyana was officially registered in Guyana in 1995. Since then the organization has supported over 3000 families within the country’s ten administrative regions, through partnership with affiliates, home partners, volunteers, and sponsors to build simple, decent and affordable housing for low income earners.
Also, the organization says it has undertaken home repairs, rehabilitation works, and assisted in accessing secure tenure.
“With a new programme direction, added focus will be placed on community development, disaster risk reduction, and social action and awareness. Via resource centres, the organization seeks to make a stronger impact on communities through training, mobilization, and planning of various community-driven projects.”
Habitat has been devoted to building “simple, decent, and affordable” housing, and has been addressing the issues of poverty housing all over the world.
The affiliate’s family selection committee chooses homeowners based on their level of need, their willingness to become partners in the programme and their ability to repay the loan. Every affiliate follows a non-discriminatory policy of family selection.
There are several checks and balances in place to protect both Habitat and the potential homeowner: Habitat for Humanity performs an extensive background check on potential homeowners, including character references, employer interviews, and audit of finances. The applicants are required to sign release forms authorizing Habitat for Humanity to perform this background check. This ensures that Habitat’s risk is reasonable when selling a home and that the applicant family is in a suitable financial position to take on the responsibility of a mortgage.
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