WILLEMSTAD – Former PAR Member of Parliament Ana Maria Pauletta says more than 40 previously vacant homes have been assigned to families in less than three months, arguing that continued public attention to empty social housing is beginning to produce results.
Pauletta highlighted the issue during a visit to Kaya Mérida in Muizenberg, where she had previously drawn attention to homes that had remained vacant and in need of maintenance.
According to Pauletta, five homes on Kaya Mérida have now been repaired, allowing five families to move into the properties. She said two of the homes are already occupied.
“A roof over your head is one of the basic necessities for the development of any person,” Pauletta said in comments about the housing situation.
She said that about a year ago she had stood in front of homes that had remained empty for years and questioned why properties belonging to Fundashon Kas Popular (FKP) were not being repaired more quickly while families continued waiting for housing.
Pauletta said the latest developments show that progress can be made when sustained attention is placed on maintenance problems and vacant properties. According to her, more than 40 families have now been able to obtain housing within a period of less than three months.
The former parliamentarian said she intends to continue drawing attention to poor maintenance, vacant FKP properties and the broader shortage of affordable housing in Curaçao.
Pauletta described the developments at Kaya Mérida as encouraging but indicated that the issue is far from resolved. She argued that vacant homes should be repaired and returned to use as quickly as possible, particularly while families remain on waiting lists for housing.
“Pressure helps,” Pauletta said, crediting continued scrutiny of the issue with helping bring attention to properties that had remained unused.
The figures and developments cited were provided by Pauletta. No additional information was provided on how the more than 40 homes were allocated, where all of the properties are located, or how many vacant FKP homes remain awaiting renovation.