Housing solutions face economic and structural challenges

Discussions regarding housing solutions highlight both philosophical approaches to dignity and the economic challenges of construction. Engineer Duval Burna has proposed a framework titled ‘Desde Principios – Una Vivienda Posible’, which advocates for addressing housing shortages through human dignity and the coordination of state, private, and family resources. Burna argues that housing should serve as a platform for life development rather than just a physical product, suggesting that diverse needs require diverse responses.

In the Dominican Republic, the housing deficit is estimated at 1,464,995 units according to the 2022-2032 Decennial Plan. Addressing this requires producing approximately 100,000 housing solutions annually. However, high costs remain a barrier. Developers face significant financial pressure due to the long construction timelines—often 18 to 24 months—and the necessity of using high-interest bridge loans to finance projects before receiving tax incentives like the ITBIS bonus.