The Ministry of Social Affairs and Public Housing (SoZaVo) has received nearly 1,000 applications for construction subsidies, while the available budget has room to support only about 300 families. Minister Diana Pokie said this on Tuesday, 22 September, during the symbolic presentation of 25 construction subsidy approvals.
The presentation took place at the headquarters of the Directoraat Volkshuisvesting (Directorate of Public Housing), in the presence of acting President Gregory Rusland and Deputy Minister Daniëlle Beeldsnijder-van Windt.
According to Pokie, at this stage, following inspections by the ministry, 284 applications have been approved. The construction subsidy currently amounts to SRD 100,000 per beneficiary. The minister announced that this amount will be increased to SRD 150,000. If financial capacity permits, the subsidy amount may be increased further in the future, she said.
The minister stressed that not all applicants can be assisted. “We want to help everyone, but we are bound by a budget,” Pokie said.
Backlogs dating from 2020
SoZaVo is also currently working to clear backlogs in applications from the period 2020 through 2025. According to Pokie, the ministry is facing, among other things, incomplete records and a shortage of transport for inspection activities.
The minister said that work is being done behind the scenes on solutions to further improve the processing of applications.
Acting President Gregory Rusland stated during the meeting that housing is an important priority for the government. He called on the beneficiaries to use the amount received exclusively for the purpose for which the subsidy was granted.
Pokie also warned that the money may be recovered if it turns out that a beneficiary uses the subsidy for other purposes. “Otherwise, you will have to pay it back. Because others urgently need it,” the minister said.
House fire victims among beneficiaries
Among those who received an approval was Urmia Macintosch. She lost her home and belongings in a fire in February 2026. She told the Communicatie Dienst Suriname (CDS) that she was grateful for the support. “It is a grant, you can get started with it.”
Sudeshpersad Dihal also received an approval. He had submitted his application as early as 2020 and said he had no longer expected to still qualify for the subsidy.
Kimberly Setrokarijo likewise described the contribution as important support and said she wanted to begin the work as soon as possible.
Minister Pokie indicated that she sympathises with families who have lost their homes due to fire. She referred to her own experience, after she too became a victim of a house fire in the 1990s.
