City to assist low-cost apartment dwellers<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The municipality will help low-cost apartment
\nresidents to pay meet their monthly mortgage payments.<\/p>\n
The head of the City's Housing Agency, Ongky Sukasah, said
\nyesterday the agency had allocated Rp 96 million (US$40,083) to
\ngive financial assistance to needy residents in five low-cost
\napartment buildings in the city.<\/p>\n
The city hopes the funds will help families start small
\nbusinesses.<\/p>\n
\"The assistance is expected to improve residents' income,
\nwhich in turn will enable them to pay installments,\" Ongky said
\nat City Hall.<\/p>\n
The people eligible for the scheme are those living in the
\nBidaracina apartments in East Jakarta, Benhil II and Tanah Tinggi
\napartments in Central Jakarta, Tambora apartment in West Jakarta
\nand Tebet Barat apartments in South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Former slum dwellers are given priority of purchase of the
\napartments and pay 50 percent of the cost, or Rp 10 million to Rp
\n15 million. The rest is subsidized by the city.<\/p>\n
Although many have sold their apartments, the city is sticking
\nto its policy of resettling slum people in them.<\/p>\n
Some of the original owners said they sold their apartments
\nbecause they did not think they could meet the monthly
\ninstallments and maintenance fees, and they expected a drop in
\nincome.<\/p>\n
They had said it was hard to continue their jobs, such as
\nselling vegetables or food, while living in high-rise homes.<\/p>\n
The apartments are purchased in installments of Rp 90,000 to
\nRp 200,000 a month over a five to 20 year period.<\/p>\n
Ongky had said earlier that eventually the slum residents
\nwould prefer living in apartments, and the city would help them.<\/p>\n
He said yesterday the assistance plan came out of a course run
\nby the agency for low-cost apartment residents last October.<\/p>\n
The five-month entrepreneurship course for 359 participants,
\nmostly women, included cooking, sewing and medical training.<\/p>\n
He said the basic skills could help participants start their
\nown businesses such as kindergartens or medical clinics.<\/p>\n
Deputy Governor for Administrative Affairs, Idroes, who was
\npresent at the inauguration of the fund, said he hoped residents
\nwould use the aid to improve their earning capacity. The city was
\ncommitted to the apartment project, but there were still cultural
\nproblems, he said.<\/p>\n
He said the city's approach to social and financial assistance
\ncould help the residents meet their payments and improve their
\nunderstanding of their rights and obligations as apartment
\ndwellers.<\/p>\n
Horista, a sewing course participant, thanked the municipality
\nfor the training. She said she hoped her new skills and the
\nfinancial aid would enable her to pay the installments. (11)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/city-to-assist-low-cost-apartment-dwellers-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}