His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday laid the foundation stone for a housing project in Mafraq Governorate, the first phase of a nationwide scheme to provide underprivileged families in the Kingdom with homes.



Under the first phase of the project, 600 housing units estimated at JD5 million will be constructed in underprivileged areas in all the governorates.



The second phase of the project, which will provide housing for poor families in the Kingdom's other poverty pockets, is scheduled to start at the beginning of 2006.



King Abdullah, who called for formulating a plan to determine families in need of housing in all the governorates, ordered the formation of a committee chaired by the Royal Court chief and the concerned ministries to set mechanisms to implement the initiative next year.



The project will be implemented by the Ministry of Public Works and Housing in cooperation with the ministries of planning and international cooperation, and interior and the Kingdom's governorates.



“The scheme will help many poor families in the governorate,” Mafraq Governor Mahmoud Nuaimat said, commending the project.



He said a study was conducted to determine those in need of housing.



“This project is designed to provide the impoverished citizens with homes,” said Shadeh Abu Hdeib, director of the Housing and Urban Development Corporation.



“It will make underprivileged citizens feel more secure, comfortable and stable,” he added.

The Jordan Times