Groundwork marks ´beginning of the end´ of housing deficit: Medina

Santo Domingo.- PresidentDanilo Medina on Wednesday said 2015 will be remembered as the "beginningof the end" of Dominican Republic´s housing deficit citing the groundworklaid out thus far.

"And it will beso, because we have laid the groundwork for that in the coming years, theconstruction of affordable housing advances, not by initiatives of smallhandout which look at the short term," Medina said to open the 5thannual "National Housing Table," hosted by the Dominican Housing Buildersand Developers Association (Acoprovi).

He said access todecent housing has been a challenge for many families.

"This lack of affordableloans to the masses he made you, housing developers, be directed to otherprojects, such as those devoted to tourism, or high-cost housing," Medinasaid in his keynote speech.

He said what was neededwas a state policy to promote construction of low-cost housing within reach ofmost citizens. "It was necessary to provide guarantees to investors anddevelopers will be encouraged to reorient toward the construction of affordablehousing."