• FAQs about draw

• Allocations Policy

• Apply for your home here

• See if you were chosen

• The Ministry of Planning, Housing and the Environment, through its Agency the Housing Development Corporation, is the Government body responsible for the provision of state subsidized housing, through the Accelerated Housing Programme. Commencing 2002, the HDC has been mandated to facilitate the construction and distribution of approximately 8,000 housing units each year.

• Citizens desirous of acquiring an HDC house are required to submit an application, on the prescribed form. Data from this form is entered into the Ministry’s HAFS database for possible selection. Each applicant is assigned a unique alpha-numeric reference number. As at December 31, 2009 the applicant data base stood at 123,137. Homes are allocated according to a Cabinet approved allocations policy which sets out the criteria for selection and eligibility. At present and prior to now allocations were done on a periodic basis via a random, computerized draw, which is conducted at the Ministry.

• While this system is technically sound and has been working successfully, there has been some public fall out because of a perceived lack of transparency in the system.

• The introduction of the televised modified random public draw is designed to increase public participation in the system.

• The random public draws will be conducted when developments are completed and units are ready for distribution.

• The random public draws will be conducted at CNMG Studios on Maraval Road, Port of Spain.

• The random public draws will be conducted on a delayed live broadcast meaning that the draw will be taped earlier in the afternoon of the day in question and aired later in the evening at 8:00 p.m.

• All random computerized draws will be verified by independent auditors, Pannell, Kerr Foster Ltd.

• Following the draw, the selected application numbers will be publicized broadcast via the electronic and print media. Applicants would then be advised by the HDC of the date of their interview and the documents they are required to submit.

• Selection at the draw does not mean one will be automatically granted a home. Selected families must still be approved via the selection criteria stated in the Allocations Policy and Applicants will also need to complete an independent mortgage assessment with the Trinidad and Tobago Mortgage Finance Company Limited to verify their ability to service a mortgage.