SAN Fernando West MP Faris Al-Rawi says the Home and Village Improvement Programme (HVIP) is making a positive difference in people's lives, building families and communities.

He made this comment during a function on December 21 at his constituency office on Independence Avenue, San Fernando to distribute keys to starter homes under HVIP to some of his constituents who live on the Marabella Train Line.

The HVIP falls under the Land Settlement Agency (LSA).

Al-Rawi said many people do not know the history of the HVIP or the positive impact it has been having since its inception in 2015.

He recalled there was a fire on the train line on December 25 then and two homes were destroyed.

Al-Rawi said at that time, he thought about how he could not only help the families affected by that tragedy but also improve the community along the train line as well.

He added the community and other people rallied to help the affected families rebuild their homes

Al-Rawi said this sparked an idea in his mind about how homes in impoverished communities could be improved to uplift people and communities.

The Prime Minister, he continued, saw the poor condition of certain people's homes in Moruga during a subsequent visit there and decided something should be done to address this.

While the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) does its best to provide housing for people who need it, Al-Rawi said it is challenging for the HDC to meet the needs of some 270,000 people by building approximately 3,000 homes.

"On the other hand, going into the communities and re-developing the communities, makes a huge difference."

Al-Rawi said some of the constituents who were present, benefited from getting starter homes under HVIP.

He added they are "testimony to what a community can do together."

HIVP, Al-Rawi continued, involves self-help and family help with some of the labour to build homes coming from the community itself.

He identified Vistabella, Embacadere and Marabella Train Line as three communities which have benefited from HVIP

Al-Rawi recalled shacks, pig pens and chicken coops dominating the landscape along the train line when he was first elected MP in September 2015.

Today, he said that landscape has changed with modern, large-scale housing now occupying that same space.

Al-Rawi added that waterfront and recreational facilities are also being created there.

He said these changes allow people once regarded as squatters to move from "invisibility to visibility."

Al-Rawi told his audience, "A squatter is invisible to the government, a bank, the court and to their children because you don't own land and therefore you can't mortgage it."

This has changed under HVIP.

"Under this HVIP, we have developed a system where we get land tenure."

He said land tenure means there is an initial lease which "gives you the right to own the place you are living in, the right to leave it to your children."

Al-Rawi added this can be used as collateral with a bank when applying for a mortgage.

"This constitutes a