Group looking for local partners for housing project

 AN Australian based not-for-profit organisation is looking for partners in Papua New Guinea to deliver housing to low and moderate income earners who are unable to secure long term affordable housing.

Community Housing Ltd (CHL) works in Timor Leste, Chile, and India where housing affordability is a major challenge and is helping those who are disadvantaged by market failure by securing a pathway to home ownership.

Last year, CHL established operations in Port Moresby and has undertaken a study to examine and to determine a suitable approach to tackling the shortage of affordable housing.  

The study has shown that the average employed person in a good job in Port Moresby can afford up to a maximum of K240,000 for a two bedroom house and land package. 

An “affordable dwelling” is more than double this price on the market and private rental are exorbitant. 

Up to 97 per cent of the land in PNG is customary-owned and is unable to be developed for housing and other uses.

Several large employers in Port Moresby have been in discussions with CHL to develop an affordable housing programme for up to 200 employees. 

CHL managing director Steve Bevington said: “CHL has over 20 years of specialist experience in development and management of affordable housing for those disadvantaged in the community. 

“CHL’s project development capability is a crucial part of the organisation’s vertically-integrated approach in which the organisation manages an entire project from sourcing land, to design and construction, to long term management of properties.

“We would like to bring the experience, the expertise, the financial models, and training and employment opportunities to PNG and work in partnership with likeminded organisations to tackle the issue of housing shortage in the community. 

“If there are any local organisations seeking to partner with us then we encourage them to contact us.”

Bevington  said CHL planned to introduce apprenticeship based training opportunities to expand employment to PNG nationals in the construction of these homes and create a cost effective housing delivery approach in the country. 

He said this would further reduce the construction costs and result in skills and employment generation. 

He said CHL was currently seeking undeveloped land for housing projects in the National Capital District.