The Editor, Sir:

In response to a letter to the editor published in your newspaper of Friday, December 1, 2006, we write to clarify a misinformed position raised by the writer.

Eligible contributors to the National Housing Trust (NHT) who are non-homeowners can in fact access as much as $3 million dollars each, subject to afford-ability, and not $1.5 million as indicated by the writer. This maximum amount of $3 million is available to contributors applying for our open market, Build on your own Land and Scheme loan benefits. Individual contributors may also access a house or serviced lot loan of up to $1million with the option of applying for an additional amount of up to $2 million, subject to affordability.

Individual benefit policy

The NHT also allows those of our contributors who require even more funds for the purchase of a single property to do so through our individual benefit policy. Under this programme, two eligible contributors can co-apply to access up to $6 million subject to their affordability.

It is important to note that while the individual benefit policy is a popular choice with our contributors, a significant percentage of our beneficiaries still comes from the single applicants category. We would like to take this opportunity to advise the writer to speak with a representative at the nearest NHT offices about how he/she can access an NHT benefit as a single applicant.

I am, etc.,

EARL SAMUELS

Managing Director