The government is committed to conduct a fair, cohesive and comprehensive social policy for the benefit of all categories and regions.
It seeks, specifically, to ensure social housing for every family in need, thanks to the launch of a program to build 30,000 homes, payable through favorable long-term loans, part of which will be funded by the 2012 State budget and the other part by foreign assistance and contributions of associations.
Similarly, there are plans to rehabilitate 100 neighborhoods, located mainly in the outskirts of large cities, and also to grant aid for housing rehabilitation for low income families.
In his speech during a seminar held Thursday on “social housing and new construction technologies,” Interim Prime Minister Hamadi Jbali said “the government seeks to consolidate the gains made by continuing the implementation of a housing policy to promote access to home ownership for all social strata of the population, particularly low-income households.”
The housing sector has been the subject of constant attention and support of the Government because of its important role in improving the living conditions of populations and its spillover effects on other sectors of the economy.
The policy guidelines of the Government stem, as a whole, from the will to mobilize the full potential of the country towards achieving national economic objectives, with emphasis on principles of social solidarity and equal opportunities for a healthy and safe life.
This policy, whose implementation required the involvement of key stakeholders in the sector, has led to a substantial increase in the national housing stock, the rehabilitation of old housing and the substantial reduction in the rate of incidence of poor housing,” he said.
For his part, Minister of Equipment, Mohamed Selmane said his department is committed to continue the implementation of ongoing projects in the areas of infrastructure and housing, to develop housing projects for poorest regions and create employment opportunities for unemployed youth.
To do this, the ministry has developed a roadmap that is built around four axes, namely a high-level management structure, support and creation of jobs with priority for disadvantaged regions, short-term economic recovery and implementation of medium term projects.
He added that his department has started, since last January, studies for the construction of 30,000 social housing units announced by the Government in its program. He also said that the construction of these units is spread over the years 2012 and 2013. As regards prices, the Minister has indicated they will be affordable.
It should be noted that Tunisia is suffering from an acute shortage in the offer of social housing, with thousands of Tunisians submitting, each year, applications for the acquisition of such housing units.
Similarly, the state provides, annually, 1,500 social housing units financed by the Fund for the Promotion of Employee Housing. It is in this context that falls the construction of 30,000 housing units designed for small and disadvantaged social groups in all governorates.
