Historical Background

The Bahamian government’s quest to develop a housing programme commenced in 1961 with formation of the Bahamas Housing Corporation. In 1964, with the adoption of the Constitution of The Bahamas, the Corporation was dissolved and succeeded by the Ministry of Housing. In 1965, the Department of Housing was created and since that time fallen within the portfolios of a number of ministries. It is presently within the portfolio of the Ministry of Housing.

The mandate of the Minister Responsible for Housing is the encouragement of home ownership by persons of low to moderate incomes through the operation of the Government Guaranteed Mortgage Loan initiative.
 

Vision Statement

To ensure that Bahamians throughout the country have access to adequate and affordable quality built housing in a clean and safe environment.

Mission Statement

To facilitate the provision of affordable housing to Bahamians of low to medium incomes, by providing them the opportunity to purchase quality built houses or serviced lots, in collaboration with building contractors (approved builders) and financial institutions (approved lenders) by way of the government guaranteed mortgage loan program.

The Bahamas Mortgage Corporation

The Corporation funds approximately 95% of government initiated mortgage loans, in addition to providing construction and infrastructure financing for the Department of Housing. The current limit on guaranteed loans is $250,000.00. The Bahamas Mortgage Corporation also provides insured loans for privately initiated projects for home ownership (new construction), home purchase, rehabilitation and structural enlargements.

House Construction and Lot Sales

Over the past forty years, thousands of houses have been built in New Providence and Grand Bahama. The Subdivisions and locations are Yellow Elder Gardens, Big Pond, Elizabeth Estates, Flamingo Gardens, Palm Tree Estates, Blueberry Hill, Daisy Manor, Cockburn Close, Cox Street, Jasmine Gardens, Faith Avenue, Grays Terrace, Millar’s Road, Pastel Gardens, Hope Gardens, Millennium Gardens, Jubilee Gardens, Golden Sun, Adelaide, Excellence Estates, Dignity Gardens, East Coral Estates, Yeoman Wood, Sunset, Heritage Community, Frobisher Circle, Wellington Pinder Heights, Lawrence Close, Pine Forest Estates, West Heights, and West End. Woodframed houses have also been built through the Ministry’s “Rebirth” Project on Deveaux Street, Ross Corner, St. James Road, Bain Town, St. Cecelia's, and in the former St. Margaret’s Constituency. Houses have also been constructed in Abaco, San Salvador, Exuma and Eleuthera.  
Hundreds of Lots have also been sold for houses constructed on the islands of Andros, Abaco, Bimini, and Eleuthera.

Public Rental Units

In addition to facilitating ownership, the Ministry of Housing has also constructed Public Rental Units and Senior Citizen Units, providing shelter for hundreds of Bahamian families in complexes on Sutton Street, Peter Street, Penny Bank Lane, Bimini Ave., South Street, East Street South, Newbold Street, McCullough Corner, Brougham Street, Yellow Elder Gardens, Moore Ave., Poinciana Ave., Windsor Lane, Toote Shop Corner, Lewis Street, Finlayson Street and Augusta Street. A Public Rental Unit was also constructed in West End, Grand Bahama, and senior citizens units have been constructed in Rolleville, Exuma, and in Kemp’s Bay, Andros.