Our Stand (45) —

Many economies experienced setbacks, several businesses forced to re-strategize, cut costs and lay off some workforce. Huge number of jobs was lost, families face increased challenges, some of which are the difficulties to settle accommodation issues and other daily expenses to cater for themselves and families. Affordable housing had been what many, especially the low income earners had hoped for even prior to the burst of COVID-19.

Also read: Housing A Pride for Every Homeowner

Lack of proper plans to challenge unforeseen contingencies which has been the bane of the government may have seen the country suffer more as a result of the virus than it probably should. That being said, there still time to make plans for the future, there is still room for improvement. There is still hope for the country to embark on more housing projects to bridge the housing deficit gap in the country.

Read more: Our stand 40: Affordable housing needs to meet the normal housing standard.

These housing projects should be ones that is hoped will offer more in features like infrastructural facilities including low maintenance, sustainability and energy efficiency. When a government is willing to do more for the provision of affordable housing, it will not only be building such houses but, it comes with a mindset or mentality that you are rebuilding communities because, affordable housing is seen as a way of strengthening a society.

Affordable housing empowers a community. With the government doing this, they are not only responding to community needs, they are improving the lives of the masses. If residents have access to quality affordable housing, they will be living more in a preventive health care environment than one where they will be taken for emergency treatments to healthcare centers often.