Providing the Housing for Sustainable Growth

Transforming the housing landscape with the right resources and initiatives in place

The housing shortage is real. While countries continue to grapple with the various ways to meet a lack of inventory and provide affordable housing options, the clock is ticking to ensure that resident housing needs are adequately met.

Providing the resources needed to combat housing needs in a region of the world that is renowned for its sparkling beach-lined shores, Caribbean Housing Ltd. (CHL) is actively transforming the housing landscape.

Established over 50 years ago, CHL has been a Caribbean leader in real estate development, partnering with community partners to ensure top-quality housing builds through the decades and as it looks into future development.

CHL is tirelessly working to achieve lasting housing solutions. Addressing housing needs in both the public and private sectors, this privately-based housing company offers high-quality housing alternatives while also helping the local construction sector with its wide reach of regionally based contractors.

“We create direct employment within our company and also support a vast network of contracting firms and their workforce,” Mr. Daran Bahadoorsingh, Managing Director with CHL begins.

“Over the years we have partnered with a few thousand contractors, enriching the local economy and providing jobs to many individuals,” he adds. “Through these efforts, we aim to make a lasting impact on the housing market and socioeconomic development of the country.”

Building Employment Opportunities

Of course building houses requires the necessary trained skilled workforce to construct each and every property.

While many countries are facing worrying skills labor shortages that often hinder the construction of much-needed new homes, CHL has found the answer to ensuring that the local workforce is put to work on housing projects. While leading to employment solutions for local talent, CHL is also helping to fill vacancies for skilled contracting professionals available to construct both residential and commercial builds.

CHL is addressing employment needs with a well-thought-out, three-pronged approach that sees the company recruiting from an On-the-Job Training (OJT) Government program, conducting in-house training sessions, and providing vital internships for recent graduates to gain hands-on construction experience.

“We have a diverse array of professional and trade skills, each of which plays a critical role in ensuring successful project outcomes,” Bahadoorsingh explains. “We create valuable employment opportunities for a wide range of skilled individuals.”

“We recruit from the On-the-Job Training (OJT) Government program which allows individuals to gain hands-on experience while working alongside seasoned experts.”

“We also conduct in-house training sessions designed to enhance specific skills relevant to our industry and have offered internship programs that provide recent graduates with practical exposure to our process,” Bahadoorsingh continues. “These internships serve as a vital bridge between academic learning and real-world application.”

Building Community Involvement

Climbing out of the global pandemic has also turned the mirror toward supply chain woes, impacting the construction industry on different levels. The cost of materials skyrocketed post-COVID and while leveling out somewhat, still factors into the overall cost of construction projects on both the residential and commercial side. Importing the materials has also proved challenging. Wait times have increased and some materials have been hard to access.

While a challenge for many construction sectors, CHL has navigated the challenge by sourcing products locally and looking for routes to ease any construction delays.

“We source a diverse array of goods and services from community-based providers including construction materials like steel, cement, hardware, and doors and windows.”

“We procure a wide range of necessary consumables that are vital for the seamless operation of our satellite offices and commercial properties including a multitude of services required for maintaining the upkeep of our facilities,” Bahadoorsingh offers.

To combat supply chains Bahadoorsingh explains, “We aim to nurture mutually beneficial partnerships, fostering a collaborative environment that promotes shared success.”

To ensure that housing needs are locally focused, CHL has concentrated its building efforts in regions that need it most.

“Our development initiatives in the borough of Chaguanas enhance the local housing landscape.” “By focusing on communities such as Brentwood and Brookhaven, we aim to create a variety of residential and commercial offerings that will effectively meet the needs of both the immediate neighborhood and our broader catchment area,” Bahadoorsingh elaborates.

This broad commitment that is tailored to cater to local residents and locally-based businesses has gone a long way to support the community aesthetic.

Building underway

When asked what projects the company is currently working on, Bahadoorsingh points to the Brentwood and Brookhaven developments.

“Located along the Sir Solomon Hochoy Highway, Brentwood emerges as a vibrant mixed-use community, serving as a dynamic town centre in central Trinidad,” Bahadoorsingh describes.

“This lively area boasts the well-known Brentwood Mall, which is an inviting hub for shopping and socializing, alongside a flourishing upper-middle-class residential townhouse development called Brentwood Court.”

“A mile to the east of Brentwood lies Brookhaven, one of the company’s other developments. Here, the emphasis shifts to suburban living, cantered around gated communities, featuring a diverse array of properties, including elegant townhouses and spacious single-family lots that cater to new builds,” Bahadoorsingh relays.

Building a Sustainable Focus

As the focus shifts to incorporate more and more sustainable building options, CHL has committed its efforts to doing the same.

“Our focus on responsible construction goes beyond mere compliance; we actively manage waste and runoff to protect our environment,” Bahadoorsingh highlights.

“By utilizing sustainable building materials in our residential projects, we are setting a standard for eco-friendly constriction.

CHL has started to integrate solar lighting and solar glass to help ensure energy efficiency and reduce overall costs for the consumer. Some properties are also built with the infrastructure in place to charge eclectic vehicles. Other options that CHL has started to explore include the use of concrete roofs and insulated roofs to further increase energy conservation and efficiency.

While going green remains paramount for CHL, so too is the integrated use of the latest technology in the building process.

The company is currently considering the implementation of pre-cast flooring options on the residential side. CHL is also weighing the option of manufacturing beams that are designed to a specific length determined by the needs of the project to help cut down on the use of surplus materials.

Building the Future

While very successful in the houses that CHL constructs, the company is always looking to future growth.

“We aspire to establish ourselves as a leader in the realm of private affordable housing,” Bahadoorsingh states confidently.

“Our long-term objectives include not only creating high-quality residential spaces, but also setting the benchmark for industry standard in design, construction, and sustainability.”

Paying close attention to detail and quality craftsmanship in all of its homes, CHL knows that it is already creating a legacy in affordable housing options and home builds across the region.

The company is also aligning its efforts to match the needs of the local economy and the housing gaps that need to be filled. Concentrating on sustainable, affordable homes tailored and built for the needs of the community, CHL will continue to work alongside local governments to address housing gaps moving forward.

“Investing in real estate is widely recognised as one of the most stable and secure options for medium to long-term financial growth. Historically, our homeowners have enjoyed substantial returns on their investments, often surpassing other forms of investment in both resilience and profitability,” Bahadoorsingh acknowledges.

“As the second largest real estate developer in the nation, we are grateful that customers have partners with us to help them secure their financial future.”

“By investing with CHL, they can tap into our expertise, market knowledge, and dedication to quality development, ensuring that their investments are backed by a solid reputation and foundation,” Bahadoorsingh concludes.

AT A GLANCE:

Who: Caribbean Housing Ltd.
What: The leading real estate developer that prides itself on community partnerships and providing the housing needs of communities tailored to its needs and vision.
Where: Brentwood, Trinidad and Tobago
Website: https://chltt.com/