The Aruba rental housing shortage remains significant, with approximately 4,000 people currently waiting for an FCCA rental home, according to director Julie Wever.
FCCA is already preparing another housing project in Tanki Leendert as it works to increase the number of affordable rental properties available to residents.
Wever said the next development will also be located entirely in Tanki Leendert and is expected to include additional homes.
The master plan is essentially complete, and FCCA is now preparing the technical designs.
The organization aims to submit the plans to DOW by the end of the month to begin the building-permit process.
Tender and construction documents also need to be prepared so that a contractor can eventually be selected.
Construction Timing Depends on Permits
Wever explained that the schedule will depend largely on how quickly building permits and other administrative procedures can be completed.
FCCA would prefer to begin construction this year, but she said the project may realistically move into next year because permitting and procurement processes can take considerable time.
FCCA’s role in social housing is longstanding. The organization was established to help address Aruba’s shortage of affordable housing, particularly for families with limited financial resources.
Around 4,000 Waiting for Rental Housing
Wever said FCCA does not maintain the same type of formal waiting database for people seeking to purchase homes.
People interested in buying can express their interest and may be contacted when appropriate properties become available.
Rental housing is different.
FCCA currently has a very long waiting list, with around 4,000 people seeking rental homes.
The scale of the shortage has been building for years. In July 2024, the Government of Aruba reported that more than 3,000 people were already waiting for housing through FCCA.
FCCA’s 2024 annual report later stated that more than 3,800 households were waiting for social housing.
FCCA Targets 500 Rental Homes
To address demand, FCCA plans to deliver approximately 500 rental homes over the next three years.
According to Wever, around 120 homes are already close to the preparation stage.
Another 75 homes have already entered the tender process, while approximately 50 additional homes are nearly ready to go to tender.
The objective is to steadily expand Aruba’s supply of rental housing while moving new projects through design, permitting and construction.
The Aruba rental housing shortage remains a major challenge, but FCCA’s planned 500-home program could provide additional options for hundreds of households currently waiting for affordable accommodation.
