Secretary of Settlements, Public Utilities, and Urban Renewal Ian Pollard blames onerous Town & Country processes and lack of access to Land Titles as reasons why Low-Income Families struggle to construct more resilient homes
With the need to build resilience against climate change in communities comes the necessity to construct climate-resilient homes. Lower-income families often do not pay attention to how they construct their homes and the problems certain designs can cause. The Secretary of Settlements, Public Utilities, and Rural Development, Ian Pollard, pointed out one design flaw he sees too often.
Under the new dispensation of Housing Grants, provisions for proper guttering will be made. However, Pollard sympathised with many struggling families because he saw how they were forced to cut corners when constructing their homes instead of ensuring it was done to withstand natural hazards. He noted that often, people make add-ons as they receive funding, but these additions lack structural integrity.
Pollard said this is one of the reasons why they are partnering with Habitat for Humanity to construct climate-resilient homes for the most vulnerable families in Tobago.
