A study shows that the Housing Allowance Scheme for ex-prisoners has failed.
Minister for Social Welfare and Poverty Alleviation, Doctor Jiko Luveni said the Poverty Alleviation Program was designed in 1994 to improve the coping capabilities of people eligible for Family Assistance from the Social Welfare Department.
She said that since including the ex-prisoners under the Program criteria in 2000, a number of problems arose for the Social Welfare Department in managing the program.
She said that amongst other things, concerns included funds being open to abuse and many individuals with worse economic and financial situations failing to qualify for assistance under the program as they do not have any past convictions or prison record.
Dr Luveni said that this conveyed a misleading message to the community that the government, through the Social Welfare Department actually rewards prisoners.
She said that the Poverty Alleviation Program Criteria will now be revised under which the word "Ex-prisoner" will be removed as an eligibility criterion.
Housing Allowance Scheme for ex-prisoners fail
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