In the media

Jobless homeowners can apply for mortgage relief in California, US

Published in Wednesday January 2nd, 2013 In In the media

Jobless benefits could end for almost 30,000 San Diegans at the start of the New Year if President Obama and Congress don’t act. But some of those residents, if they move quickly, could qualify for mortgage aid from the state. Keep Your Home California is a $2 billion program that helps keep struggling homeowners in their properties. It catches them up on mortgage payments, helps them relocate after completing short sales and cuts their principal balances.
State officials have urged certain out-of-work borrowers to apply for a slice of the program that offers up to $3,000 a month in mortgage aid for a maximum of nine months. Since unemployment benefits could end in the New Year, borrowers must apply before this month ends, said Di Richardson, the program’s director.

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Rebuilding in Haiti Lags After Billions in Post-Quake Aid

Published in Wednesday January 2nd, 2013 In In the media

There is a marked deflation of the lofty ambitions that followed the disaster, when the world aspired not only to repair Haiti but to remake it completely. The new pragmatism signals an acknowledgment that despite billions of dollars spent — and billions more allocated for Haiti but unspent — rebuilding has barely begun and 357,785 Haitians still languish in 496 tent camps.

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10,000 Displaced Persons May Get Agricultural Land in Kenya

Published in Wednesday January 2nd, 2013 In In the media

The Cabinet will decide how to resettle more than 10,000 IDP families and other evictees before the elections. With only two months to the polls, Head of Civil Service Francis Kimemia has said the government will make a decision on how to get land for their resettlement. The government is considering to use part of its land owned by ministries and parastatals to resettle the families which include those evicted from Mau and Embobut forests.

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Shitanda launches slum upgrading programme in Nairobi

Published in Friday December 21st, 2012 In In the media

Housing Minister Soita Shitanda has asked slum dwellers to be ready for the upcoming slum upgrading programme in Nairobi. Speaking in Kibera Soweto Slums yesterday during the groundbreaking ceremony of Seefar Apartments located within Highrise Estate in the area, the minister noted that it will take collective responsibility to see Kenya’s Vision 2030 dream of having cheap and decent affordable housing for all achieved.

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UNHCR attacks on Hungarian homeless law

Published in Friday December 21st, 2012 In In the media

Two rapporteurs of the Human Rights Council of the United Nations called on the Hungarian government this week to respect the ruling of the country’s Constitutional Court and refrain from criminalising homelessness. In November the Constitutional Court found as unconstitutional the law adopted last year that set fines or prison sentences on those sleeping rough in public areas for the second time in six months. The UN Special Rapporteurs on extreme poverty and human rights, Magdalena Sepúlveda, and on adequate housing, Raquel Rolnik, stressed that Hungary is required to align its national legislation with its international human rights obligations.

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Curbing Tanzania’s “Land Grabbing Race”

Published in Thursday December 20th, 2012 In In the media

From January 2013, Tanzania will start restricting the size of land that single large-scale foreign and local investors can “lease” for agricultural use. The decision follows both local and international criticism that major investors are grabbing large chunks of land here, often displacing small-scale farmers and local communities.
The Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office Peniel Lyimo confirmed that the government would limit the amount of land leased to investors in this East African nation. Previously, there were no limits.

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Slow delivery of title deeds to housing subsidy beneficiaries is cause for Concern

Published in Thursday December 20th, 2012 In In the media

Just over one million housing subsidy beneficiaries in South Africa have not received the title deeds to their properties, and the situation is worsening. As a result, poor households cannot fully benefit from the ownership of a property and use it properly as an asset and to improve their financial circumstances. A recent study by Urban LandMark reveals that the registration of title to subsidy properties in favour of beneficiaries is not happening in approximately one third of cases. The study estimates that just over one third (35%) of all houses delivered through the housing subsidy scheme have not been provided with a title deed.

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Lagos Condemns Rise in Forging of Land Documents in Nigeria

Published in Wednesday December 19th, 2012 In In the media

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), has given detailed insight into the reasons behind the promulgation of the State’s Land Use Act (Title Document Registration) 2012, saying that it was to improve service in the administration of land in the state.
Fashola, who spoke at the stakeholders’ meeting on Land Use Act (Title Documentation) 2012, said the process of land administration in the state would be greatly enhanced by the operation of the Act, pointing out that it would also empower citizens of the state.

UN Helps Land Commission in Liberia

Published in Wednesday December 19th, 2012 In In the media

The UN-Habitat Liberia Friday donated vehicles to the Land Commission of Liberia describing its work as crucial to the resolution of land disputes in the country. The donation came as the Land Commission was carrying out a pilot project in five counties that will lead to the resolution of land disputes in the country.

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Eviction of traditional dwellers in forests opposed in India

Published in Tuesday December 18th, 2012 In In the media

The members of Karnataka Rajya Moola Budakattugala Okkuta staged a protest against the eviction of forest dwellers who have been residing inside the forest, for generations, in front of Deputy Commissioner’s office in Mangalore on Monday. The protesters shouted slogans against the eviction of the traditional forest dwellers. Addressing the protesters, Federation Vice-President M Sundar said that that the authorities should issue title deeds for the forest dwellers.

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