Works for the implementation of the specific social housing program is moving at a pace deemed rapid.
Decided by the State for the benefit of needy categories, this program aims to eradicate rudimentary dwellings and replace them with decent housing. It involves the construction of 20,000 residential units for low-income families.
Regarding the management and rehabilitation program, the work done by the various committees throughout the country has led to the conclusion that about 10,000 rudimentary dwellings require intervention and reconstruction.
The National Committee has approved, in this context, 21 lists (Kebili, Tozeur, Gabes, Tataouine, Mahdia, Manouba, Zaghouan, Nabeul, Sousse, Sfax, Medenine, Ben Arous, Ariana, Gafsa, Sidi Bouzid, Siliana, Kairouan, Monastir, Beja, Bizerte and Tunis). Tenders were launched in these governorates.
For the remaining regions (Kef, Kasserine and Jendouba), surveys and field visits have been completed. The lists of beneficiaries are being published and will be finalized once the challenges are processed.
Work starts in 10 governorates
Work started in 10 governorates (Tozeur, Kebili, Gabes, Tataouine, Mahdia, Nabeul, Sousse and Ben Arous …) in order to develop and rehabilitate 1,630 homes. The rate of progress is at 30%.
On another level, tenders were launched for the benefit of 11 governorates, including Gafsa, Sidi Bouzid and Kairouan. Contractors will be picked for the construction of 2,062 housing units.
Funding of the program for the development and rehabilitation of rudimentary housing comes from the state budget for an estimated cost of 200 million dinars, 60 million dinars of which have been planned under the supplementary state budget of Tunisia for 2012 and 120 million in the state budget for the year 2013.
As a reminder, the state contributes 50% of the total cost of the project while the beneficiary shall bear the remainder of the charges under the terms of a contract signed with the “Banque de l’Habitat” responsible for the management of credits dedicated to the program.
The construction of residential units is dependent on the availability of lands. It is important to note that the “Société Nationale Immobilière de Tunisie” (SNIT) is responsible for the construction of 50 social housing units to replace rudimentary dwellings in Sakiet Sidi Youssef (Kef governorate) with a budget of about 1.5 million dollars.
120,000 applications for social housing
For the construction of housing units for low-income families, more than 120, 000 applications were received by the Ministry of Public Works until the end of September 2012, on the application close date.
These 120,000 applications are spread over the whole country. A land search took place in this respect to identify lands belonging to the State, in coordination with the Ministry of Public Property and Land Affairs Land and “l’Agence Foncière de l’Habitat” (AFH).
To this day, many of the sites have been identified and will be developed for the construction of approximately 12,000 housing units.
