Housing applicants on the basis of a joint monthly income of $45,000 will no longer be eligible for such housing.

According to government even if applicants had pre-qualified for the process, people with a joint monthly income of $25,000 will be allowed to access that housing instead.

Cabinet took a decision to reduce the qualifying salary for HDC homes yesterday.

At the Post Cabinet Media Briefing Communications Minister Maxie Cuffie said this figure is more in line with that listed in 2005 legislation with relation to public housing.

Minister Cuffie said the limit was raised to $45,000 under the previous government which placed low-income earners at a disadvantage.

However former Housing Minister Roodal Moonilal says over 40,000 people would be affected by the decision of the Government.

Dr. Moonilal yesterday described the policy change as scandalous, shocking and possibly illegal.

Last week Housing Minister Marlene Mc Donald in a TV6 interview revealed that since the Peoples’ Partnership took office no middle income families were eligible for a home.

The new policy is expected to be implemented immediately.

(newscentre5)