Family home funds (FHF) is not just about housing but also about job creation, it’s a pro poor housing finance institution first of its kind in Nigeria.
It’s the largest social intervention funds in Africa established by the federal Govt of Nigeria.
Family homes funds housing projects are ongoing in not less than 10 states in Nigeria, creating jobs, providing hope for those who have lost hope in owning a home.
According to one of the officials of the Family Homes Funds who stated “Our focus is to create homes that people, particularly those on low income can afford but beyond that, ensure that we provide opportunity for them to earn decent wages consistently through our investment in these projects”.
“We have spent the last 9 months building very strong foundations for a major take off and now we should start seeing the results affordable homes and jobs for local people”
In spite of the devastating impact of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) in many countries including Nigeria, the Country’s biggest social housing scheme, Family Homes Funds (FHF) remains committed to its promise of delivering affordable homes to low and medium income earners in Nigeria.
This pandemic has revealed how important housing is in a country like Nigeria where over 20 million housing deficits persist.
The current situation where millions are either homeless or living in sub-human slums presents a perfect atmosphere for the uncontrollable spread of diseases, infections and viruses, especially coronavirus.
There is no better time than now for the government to give much needed attention and resources to FHF so that it can build affordable houses for low income earners, more than already projected.
Creation of new jobs is a critical element of the Funds programme. Ongoing investments are already making a real difference with over 13,000 jobs created and about 360,000 to be created from the current development pipeline.
The Grand Luvu Project in Nasarawa State has created about 8000 jobs.
What’s really impressive about this federal government initiative is that houses, jobs and livelihood opportunities are provided simultaneously, and those who have already benefited in states like Delta, Nasarawa, Kano, Kaduna etc., can point to these benefits.
The story is no different for Abu Imtiaz, a graduate of Accounting from Kaduna Polytechnic, who before now wasn’t employed, but is now engaged as an accountant on site.
Other beneficiaries Yusuf Ishaq an unemployed itinerant bricklayer now has a stable source of income at the Kaduna Construction, so also does Abubakar Sidi, a Carpenter who has had to relocate to the site area because of the job stability that the project offers.
Because of this pandemic, a lot of people are drained financially, especially the low to medium income earners whose purchasing power has been dealt a huge blow, not to mention those who have become unemployed as a result.
There should be a shift from the days when houses are built for people who cannot afford them. A lot of projects are abandoned all over the country because of this misjudgment.
“FHF is very ready to work and partner with various stakeholders. Inherent with how we were set up is to work with existing stakeholders, innovate in reaching out to new stakeholders to ensure we are able to meet the gap.”
The Fund stands out at the moment as one of the most influential institutions chasing the goal of drastically reducing the housing deficit in Nigeria, and Niger state is only the latest of states to benefit.
