Housing Minister: BSPS Programme to Reach 33,000 Households in East Java by 2026

Housing and Settlement Areas Minister Maruarar Sirait made a direct visit to the site of prospective recipients of Self-Help Housing Stimulus Assistance (BSPS) in Surabaya, East Java, on Sunday (3/5). He did this to accelerate the house renovation programme for low-income communities. The BSPS programme in East Java this year has seen a significant increase. The total number of recipients reaches 33,000 family heads (KK), a sharp rise from the previous year’s approximately 3,000 units. “The increase is very substantial; last year 3,000, now in East Java reaching 33,000 houses,” said Maruarar while inspecting the location in Surabaya, as reported by Antara. He explained that each recipient receives assistance of Rp20 million per housing unit. The breakdown is Rp17.5 million allocated for purchasing building materials, while Rp2.5 million is used for labour wages. This programme not only aims to improve housing quality but also to stimulate community economies. Assuming each house is worked on by three workers, the BSPS programme has the potential to absorb up to 99,000 workers. “If 33,000 houses are worked on by three people, that means nearly 99,000 workers involved. This has a significant impact on the economy,” said Maruarar. In addition to inspecting the location, Maruarar also socialised economic empowerment programmes, such as People’s Business Credit (KUR) and PNM Mekar. This socialisation targets ultra-micro business actors, especially women. Maruarar assessed that many women in Surabaya demonstrate resilience in supporting family economies through small businesses with incomes of around Rp1 million to Rp1.5 million per month. During the event, member of the House of Representatives Commission VII, Bambang Haryo Soekartono, who is overseeing the programme’s distribution, was also present. Of the total BSPS recipients in East Java, around 1,200 KK come from Surabaya, with more than half already verified. As of early May, around 600 recipients in Surabaya have been verified and the process will be accelerated to meet the targets. Bambang appreciated President Prabowo Subianto’s policies, which he deems pro-people, including the three million houses construction programme targeted for completion in stages until 2026. East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa also expressed support and appreciation for the programme’s implementation, which directly addresses community needs. BSPS is a Ministry of Housing and Settlement Areas programme aimed at improving the quality of uninhabitable houses (RTLH) through stimulus assistance, particularly for low-income communities. The assistance focuses on providing building materials.