LOW-INCOME HOUSING PHASE II

NHA and NHSB will implement the project, which is a follow-on of project 0146 and which will in turn be followed by a Housing Guaranty (6698001). A total of 600 sites and service plots will be prepared in the New Georgia Low-Income Housing Estate. The design calls for individual water connections, sewerage disposal, and easy access to markets, schools, health clinics and public transportation. Individual homes will be equipped with flush toilets and a wash and kitchen area. Collector roads will link the units. Seed money funneled to the NHSB will permit it to institute a new low-income lending program which will include loans to the buyers of the new sites. It is estimated that the lots will be sold approximately $1,200 below cost. In addition, home improvement loans will be available to residents of existing neighborhoods (in New Georgia and New Kru Town), and short-term loans will be provided to small businesses in the general project area. Expatriate advisors will train at least 80 NHA and NHSB employees in the areas of housing contruction technology, sanitation and environmental health, financing, general management and administration, and community development. In addition, classroom training in general management and administration will be given at the Liberian Institute of Public Administration. Outstanding trainees will be sent to the U.S. for 2-3 months of on-the-job training in agencies concerned with urban renewal, low-income housing finance, small business administration, and local government institutions. Both NHA and NHSB will be reorganized and their staffs increased so that similar projects can be implemented more quickly. NHA will receive budget support for 22 new employees and NHSB for 29.