A 27-Year Wait for Social Housing

Munogee Sookdeo, a 65-year-old resident of Curepipe, has been waiting for a house from the National Housing Development Company Ltd (NHDC) since 1996. His prolonged wait has turned into a painful struggle, and he often finds himself questioning, “When will I finally have a place to call my own?”

Several months ago, Sookdeo’s plight was highlighted in the media, yet he has received no concrete response from the authorities regarding his situation.

With the rising cost of living, mounting rent payments, and the medical needs of his ailing wife, Sookdeo’s daily life has become increasingly difficult.

He has set up a housing savings account (Plan Épargne Logement) and is officially on the NHDC’s waiting list for a home.

Despite various housing projects springing up in his area near Curepipe, Sookdeo and many others like him continue to wait for a solution.

“We are still waiting,” he lamented.

“I am a dialysis patient; if I die, what will happen to my wife? She is sick, and I also need to hire a caregiver.

The government gives Rs 3,000, and I contribute another Rs 3,000 every month. Meanwhile, my rent keeps increasing,” he explained.

Sookdeo has made a desperate appeal to the NHDC to take his request for housing into consideration.

A representative from the NHDC confirmed that Sookdeo’s application has been duly recorded.

However, they emphasized that no timeline can be provided regarding the waiting period, citing the high number of applicants still awaiting housing solutions.

As Sookdeo continued to hope for relief, the urgency of the situation remains a pressing concern for many in similar circumstances.

Source: Le Mauricien