Although his new home was being visited by government leaders, six-year-old Raseah Bodden was more impressed with having “windows that I can look out of”. He is the first boy to move into the cozy subdivision of twelve new National Housing Development Trust (NHDT) homes in East End.

The ribbon cutting to open Phase One of the development, located on a ridge behind the district’s primary school, took place on Monday, 10 October.

The event was attended by Premier the Hon. McKeeva Bush, OBE, JP; Deputy Premier the Hon. Juliana O’Connor Connolly, JP; Minister of Community Affairs and Housing the Hon. Mike Adam, MBE, JP. Also, present were Ministers Mark Scotland, JP and Rolston Anglin, JP; MLA/Housing Councilor Ellio Solomon, JP; and MLA Dwayne Seymour, JP.

Raseah and his dad Rodrick occupy a two-bedroom home. “It’s been a long journey, but now we can be together most of the time,” said Mr. Bodden. He explained that over the years his son was raised in different homes, “by everybody, anyhow” – and especially by Raseah’s great-grandma, who he calls “Mama”. His mother lives in another country.

“This is a dream place for us,” added Mr. Bodden, “It’s quiet, my mom recently moved into the area, I know most of my neighbours, and now Mama can come up and spend weekends with us here. I look at life much more positively now.”

The industrious father, who is up before 4a.m. on workdays, says he is very grateful to the NHDT for its commitment in helping him realise this goal of being a homeowner.

Congratulating the efforts of all those involved, Minister Adam helped the family cut the ribbon to their new home.

The NHDT was represented by Deputy Chairman Edlin Myles, General Manager Janet James, Personal Assistant Anita Lansdell, and the NHDT staff.

The officials said 55 applications were received for the 12 initial houses in East End. These comprise two one-bedroom, three two-bedroom and seven three-bedroom houses. Nine of these have already been sold, two are pending sale, and a one-bedroom home is still available.

A private government company, the NHDT’s mandate is to assist low-income families in home ownership. There are several other housing projects underway, including a 29-home development in West Bay (nine of which are pending sale), and 26 homes are being rebuilt in Windsor Park. The next development will be in Bodden Town.

To qualify for an NHDT home, residents must be first-time Caymanian homeowners, who earn no more than $35,000 annually (single applicants) or $50,000 for couples.

For more information, contact the NHDT at 945 7649, or email [email protected].