KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Women’s Housing Committee conducted its largest lottery to date on Thursday, allocating rental homes to citizens who had applied for housing in Sulaibikhat and Taima. The draw covered 349 units and included applications submitted up to December 31, 2008. Sheikha Bibi Yousef Saud Al-Sabah, head of the committee, said the rental homes are a temporary solution until new housing projects, expected to be completed in 2028, become available. She stressed the importance of attendance and adherence to the committee’s rules.
“The current allocation for each woman does not constitute a permanent transfer,” Sheikha Bibi said, noting that updates to applicants’ data and other changes may affect housing assignments in the future. She added that beneficiaries are not allowed to dispose of their homes outside the established regulations. Rules include prohibitions on building extensions, leaving units vacant, or granting occupancy to others, including relatives. “Inspection teams will verify that the allocated units are actually occupied by the assigned beneficiary,” she said.
12,000 applications
Sheikha Bibi noted that the Public Authority for Housing Welfare has around 12,000 applications in total. Of the approximately 3,450 applications submitted in 2008 or earlier, only 800 have been updated, while the remaining requests remain pending due to a lack of response from applicants.
She called on women to communicate with the authority to confirm their status so that housing planning can meet actual demand. “Continuous cooperation and data updates are essential for us to prepare future housing plans,” she said. The committee will also accommodate applicants with school-aged children who cannot move immediately, allowing them to remain in their current homes until the end of the academic year, with certificates required from schools.
Sheikha Bibi added that the next lottery, scheduled for later this month, will focus on women with disabilities who have official reports from the Public Authority for Disabled Affairs. She said 55 to 60 beneficiaries are expected to receive housing, with subsequent draws addressing 2010 and earlier applications.
Regarding income limits, Sheikha Bibi said a meeting with Minister of State for Municipality Affairs and Minister of State for Housing Abdullatif Al-Meshari is planned to discuss the salary cap for housing eligibility. She emphasized that housing support is prioritized for families with the greatest need. “Housing is primarily directed to those most in need, including citizens earning KD 400 to 500 per month,” she said. “Those with higher housing allowances or sufficient financial means should consider the needs of others.” Sheikha Bibi also noted that around 170 homes were deemed unfit for occupancy and have been removed from the allocation list for demolition. Inspection teams continue their work to enforce the rules across all units. — KUNA
