JEDDAH, 27 June 2007 — The Prince Sultan Charitable Foundation is building 150 low-cost housing units for the poor in the Hail region at a total cost of SR50 million, according to Prince Faisal ibn Sultan, the charity’s secretary-general. The project also includes a mosque that can accommodate 1,000 worshippers.
The housing units are being constructed in Hait, south of Hail. There are two primary schools for boys and girls, a health center and public utility services in the area. “We have already distributed 100 houses at a cost of SR30 million,” the prince said.
Since the foundation launched its low-cost housing project seven years ago it has established more than 700 such houses in different parts of the Kingdom at a cost of SR200 million. The government has allocated SR2.4 billion to build 16,000 low-cost homes for the needy.
According to Social Affairs Minister Abdul Mohsen Al-Akkas, regions such as Jizan, Najran, Madinah, Al-Jouf, Hail and the Northern Border Province will receive most of these housing units.
Al-Akkas said the new houses would be distributed free of charge to the needy in various parts of the Kingdom. “They will not be charged even for maintenance, which would be carried out by the Ministry of Social Affairs,” the minister said.
A survey conducted by the Prince Abdullah Foundation for Housing has revealed that people live in poverty in many parts of the Kingdom. The survey found that as many as 10 people sleep in one room in Qunfuda, a town south of Jeddah. Saudi Arabia will need to build 1.5 million new homes by 2015.
The King Abdullah Charitable Housing Foundation, which was established three years ago, has already completed a large number of low-cost housing projects for the poor.
The foundation intends to build 13,000 housing units in various parts of the country within a few years.
