Tito Welcomes Kendari Housing Programme as Evidence of State Presence
Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri) Tito Karnavian welcomed the government’s slum rehabilitation and housing development programme in Kendari, which he described as a major-scale initiative. Tito stated that he had not encountered a similar programme during his tenure as Mendagri.
He made the remarks during a site inspection of the Self-Help Housing Stimulus Assistance (BSPS) alongside Minister of Housing and Settlement Maruarar Sirait in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, on Friday (29 May).
‘In my time as Mendagri, this is the first truly large-scale programme to assist citizens with substandard housing, including constructing new housing,’ Tito said.
In 2026, housing assistance allocations in Southeast Sulawesi will see a significant increase compared to previous years. While 2025 targeted 1,129 housing units, this year’s allocation has risen to 8,973 units, with each receiving Rp20 million in quality improvement support.
Specifically in Kendari, the government aims to rehabilitate 548 units for residents earning approximately Rp1 million per month.
Tito added that his visit to Kendari was to ensure President Prabowo Subianto’s housing priority programme runs optimally and reaches the intended beneficiaries. He stressed that the government, as the state’s representative, must be present to understand citizens’ needs concretely, ensuring they truly benefit from the state’s role in daily life.
‘Here, we aim to shift our mindset so that those genuinely relying on government assistance can indeed find that support,’ he said.
He expressed appreciation for President Prabowo and the Housing Minister’s hands-on approach in inspecting low-income settlements. Tito hopes the housing assistance programme continues and expands in coming years to reduce Indonesia’s housing backlog.
‘We hope the programme continues and grows in the coming years so that issues like homelessness and substandard housing, known as the backlog, gradually diminish,’ he concluded.