SANTO DOMINGO. The Happy Family National Housing Plan will provide 600 apartments for the second phase of construction of the Ciudad Altos de la Riviera residential complex, announced yesterday the Vice Minister of Investment Projects of the Ministry of the Presidency, Camel Curi, during a community outreach event held this weekend at the project site.
Last December, the government delivered an initial 144 apartments as part of the plan for this project, which will consist of 1,600 homes built in several phases. In that regard, Curi announced the start of phases two, three, and four of this initiative, which aims to provide quality, affordable housing for Dominican citizens.
“We are making the dreams of many Dominicans a reality, giving them the opportunity to own decent and affordable housing. This phase includes the construction of approximately 600 apartments, thus strengthening the government's commitment to providing affordable housing options,” the deputy minister stated.
Regarding the fair, which took place over two days, the deputy minister explained that one of its distinctive features was the "Operation capturing homes," which allowed for the active participation of journalists, as well as the general public, in the acquisition of these properties.
“The press has been a direct witness to how the dreams of many materialize by obtaining bank pre-qualification to access the second stage,” he stated.
One of the keys to the success of the Happy Family National Housing Plan is the financial support the government provides to buyers. In this regard, the official explained that two fundamental bonuses are being granted: the Housing Bonus, corresponding to 25% of the home's value, and the Happy Family Bonus.
In addition, the Rate Bonus is offered, which assists beneficiaries in paying their loans for seven years, with a monthly contribution of four thousand pesos.
The deputy minister highlighted the Women's Bonus, intended for heads of households, women who have suffered abuse or who have special conditions, and indicated that about 22% of the homes delivered to date have been through this bonus, which seeks to empower and improve the conditions of women and their families.
For his part, the president of the Dominican Confederation of Micro, Small and Medium Construction Companies (Copymecon), Eliseo Cristopher, developer of the “Ciudad Altos de la Riviera” project, celebrated the support of the Banco de Reservas and the “Familia Feliz” National Housing Plan.
Cristopher highlighted the 8% interest rate, which makes it possible for a greater number of Dominicans to access homeownership.
“The fair has been a resounding success, exceeding all expectations. We were expecting 800 people and we've already surpassed that number. It is hoped that the initiative will continue to transform the housing access landscape in the Dominican Republic,” Cristopher stated
Finally, he added that the National Housing Plan “Happy Family” is marking a turning point in the history of the Dominican Republic by providing housing opportunities to a broad segment of the population; with an economic and social focus, this initiative is positioned as a fundamental pillar in improving the quality of life of Dominicans.
The fairs
In an effort to make the dream of homeownership a reality for more people, the linkage fairs have emerged as a fundamental process within the National Happy Family Housing Plan in the Dominican Republic, Curi explained.
The official noted that these fairs have become a crucial meeting point between prospective homeowners and the financial institutions that support this social impact project.
He explained that one of the fundamental steps in the networking fairs is the identification and financial verification, so representatives of financial entities are present at the event to evaluate and verify the people who have not yet been previously verified and evaluated for the project.
“One key aspect that makes these fairs stand out is the speed of the process. If someone attends the fair, fills out the form, contacts the financial representatives, and their eligibility is verified, they could qualify for the project. This demonstrates how the Homebuilding Fairs facilitate direct interaction between prospective homeowners and project developers, paving the way for homeownership dreams to become a reality,” he said.
The transparency, accessibility, and opportunity provided by the Linkage Fairs are key aspects that reinforce the commitment of the Happy Family National Housing Plan to empower more Dominicans to access decent housing.
