Good News for Low-Income Earners: Details of the New Housing Plan

The Health, Labor and Social Affairs Committee held a session chaired by MP Bilal Abdullah, attended by Minister of Social Affairs Hanine Al-Sayed and member MPs.

After the session, MP Abdullah said: "The Health, Labor and Social Affairs Committee dedicated its meeting today, in the presence of Minister Hanine Al-Sayed and the Director General of the Public Housing Institution, Roni Louhoud, to discuss housing policy in Lebanon as an essential part of social care. This comes after the institution ceased operations for years, during which it received support from the state and government in difficult periods."

He added: "Unfortunately, loans went to other places that may not be eligible to meet the needs of low-income earners. However, a ray of hope began today, at least on a small scale, thanks to the efforts of the minister and the follow-up by Mr. Roni, with our insistence at every stage and position."

He continued: "The state must not evade its mission in housing policy, which is an essential part of meeting people's needs, intersecting with educational, social, and even economic movement needs. This was the subject of our discussion today. We were informed by the Director General about the plan, and the minister's fingerprints are clear on it within the framework of starting a long-term housing strategy. It requires a mechanism in this matter with Bank Lebanon, which may be stalled today, but the beginning is necessary."

Abdullah completed: "There was confirmation and insistence from the entire committee on the Council for Development and Reconstruction regarding any future loan for housing being directed to the Public Housing Institution. There was also insistence on trying to add amounts to the sum allocated in the budget, which we will discuss in budget sessions. The discussion also covered housing loans and solar energy loans. There was differentiation among colleagues, and we will return to study it, but the basic principle now is to start a housing policy for low-income earners, which is a national duty."

Minister Al-Sayed

Minister Hanine Al-Sayed said: "We thank you for inviting us to attend this meeting. It is the first time a housing strategy is put in place, which is a right for every Lebanese citizen. We started preparing for this strategy months ago, led by the Director General of the Housing Institution, Roni Louhoud. We have partners from other institutions expressing their opinion on this strategy, which is short, medium, and long-term. Based on statistics from the Research Center, seven billion dollars is the cost of residential destruction from the recent war and the previous one. Therefore, we must start helping people, and this is part of social policy. The amount allocated to us in the 2025 budget is not sufficient, but this is a beginning. In the budget discussion, we aspire to increase this amount for housing loans for individuals and families with limited income."