MPs push for creation of joint government and private sector funding to support dilapidated homes

TDT | Manama                                                      

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Email: mail@newsobahrain.com

A proposal calling for the urgent establishment of a fund to support dilapidated homes is set to be debated in the Council of Representatives tomorrow.

The proposal, put forward by MPs Hassan Ebrahim, Mohammed Al Balushi, Eman Shuwaiter, Khalid Buanq, and Mohammed Al Aliwi, advocates for joint government and private sector funding through banks and insurance companies.

The proposal’s explanatory memorandum emphasises its aim to bolster family stability and ensure safe housing for low-income families unable to afford home repairs or reconstruction.

Suitable housing

MP Ebrahim, a key proponent of the initiative, highlighted its alignment with the Bahraini Constitution’s mandate for the state to provide suitable housing, particularly for low-income citizens.

He stressed the proposal aims to revive a previous successful programme for dilapidated homes that significantly improved the lives of many Bahraini families.

Ebrahim noted that existing social welfare programmes for home repairs often have limited budgets and are subject to intermittent funding freezes, proving insufficient to meet the needs of all affected families.

Resources

He argued that a dedicated fund would provide the necessary resources for rebuilding and renovating dilapidated homes, addressing cases left incomplete by municipal councils and the Ministry of Municipalities and Agriculture.

He emphasised the success of a previous programme, which completed over 2,000 homes across all governorates, demonstrating the government’s commitment to supporting low-income families. This new initiative, he said, would further enhance their economic and psychological stability through secure housing.

Collaboration

The proposal also seeks to foster collaboration between the government and banks, encouraging the private sector’s participation in corporate social responsibility programmes, showcasing a strong public-private partnership. Ebrahim said this is a major step towards sustainable community development.