Prime Minister Gaston Browne says his administration plans to provide direct financial support to citizens to repair or rebuild their homes, as part of a new push to eliminate substandard housing across the country.

Browne said the initiative will allow individuals to access funding directly, marking a shift in how housing assistance is delivered.

“We’ll be introducing a new programme… in which our government will be providing funding directly to individuals to help them to repair or rebuild their homes,” he said.

The programme is aimed at addressing what he described as “pockets of poverty” and the continued presence of dilapidated housing in several communities.

“We are very concerned about the pockets of poverty within the country… and we’re trying to literally rid the country of all dilapidated homes,” Browne said.

He identified areas such as Point, Villa, Fort Road, Grace Farm, Otters and Green Bay among communities expected to benefit from the initiative.

The Prime Minister said the programme will complement existing housing efforts, which have focused largely on new construction and subsidized homes, by expanding support to those who already own property but lack the resources to upgrade it.

He framed the policy as part of a broader effort to improve living standards and reduce inequality, alongside investments in education, healthcare and housing.

“At the end of the day, it’s about improving the living standards of the people,” Browne said.

The proposed initiative comes as housing conditions and cost of living remain key issues ahead of the general election, with the government outlining a range of programmes aimed at expanding access to adequate housing.