Jakarta, IDN Times – Indonesia’s Minister of Home Affairs, Tito Karnavian, has voiced strong support for the “Uninhabitable Home Renovation” (RTLH) program in Papua, an initiative spearheaded by the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PKP). The Minister highlighted the significant housing challenges plaguing Papua, where a large segment of the population either lacks a home entirely or resides in substandard, uninhabitable dwellings.
Minister Karnavian’s remarks came after a pivotal meeting on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, held at the Ministry of Home Affairs headquarters in Jakarta. The meeting focused on the preparation for the construction and rehabilitation of livable homes across six provinces in the Papua region. He lauded the Ministry of Public Works and Housing for its visionary approach to addressing the region’s housing crisis.
“The Minister of Public Works and Housing has truly exceptional programs, encompassing both subsidized housing and home renovations, among other initiatives. For the home renovation aspect alone, they are allocating a minimum of 21,000 homes in the Papua region,” Tito stated, as quoted from a press release. This substantial commitment underscores the government’s intensified efforts to improve living conditions in the area.
The sheer scale of this housing initiative, according to Minister Karnavian, is unprecedented. He emphasized that no previous housing program has matched the current level of commitment demonstrated by the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, which also includes special provisions for border areas within Papua. Such an extensive program would be incredibly difficult to execute if solely reliant on regional budgets (APBD), especially considering Papua’s vast expanse, comprising six provinces and 42 regencies/cities.
To illustrate the financial burden, the former National Police Chief elaborated, “If we simply divide 21,000 homes by 42 regencies/cities, that’s roughly 500 homes per locality. Imagine the colossal costs that would need to be shouldered by each local APBD there.” This calculation highlights the necessity of central government intervention and the substantial resources required to tackle the housing deficit effectively.
Minister Karnavian extended his profound appreciation to Minister of Public Works and Housing, Maruarar Sirait, for meticulously devising and implementing the RTLH renovation program in Papua. “We convey our highest appreciation to the Minister of Housing, Mr. Ara Sirait, for the housing programs, including the home renovations, which are being undertaken on a truly significant scale across Papua, the Land of Papua,” he affirmed, acknowledging the transformative potential of these efforts.
Beyond the critical home renovation program, Minister of Public Works and Housing, Maruarar Sirait, outlined additional comprehensive housing solutions for the people of Papua. These include the provision of Housing People’s Business Credit (KUR Perumahan) and subsidized homes, designed to make homeownership more accessible. Furthermore, the Ministry is actively engaged in rehabilitating three major slum areas: in Papua Induk (main Papua), Jayapura, South Papua, and Sorong, signaling a holistic approach to urban and rural development. “The program is truly massive,” Sirait reiterated, emphasizing its broad impact.
The high-level forum was attended by a distinguished roster of officials, including Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Ribka Haluk, Head of the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti, members of the Executive Committee for the Acceleration of Papua Special Autonomy Development, and various governors and representatives from the Papua region, underscoring the collective commitment to Papua’s development.
Summary
Minister of Home Affairs, Tito Karnavian, has voiced strong support for the Ministry of Public Works and Housing’s “Uninhabitable Home Renovation” (RTLH) program in Papua, recognizing the significant housing challenges faced by the region. This unprecedented initiative plans to renovate at least 21,000 homes across six provinces in Papua. Karnavian highlighted that the immense scale of this program makes it impossible to fund solely through regional budgets (APBD), necessitating central government intervention due to the colossal costs involved.
Karnavian expressed profound appreciation to Minister Maruarar Sirait for devising and implementing this vital housing improvement program. Beyond the renovations, the Ministry of Public Works and Housing is also providing comprehensive solutions, including Housing People’s Business Credit (KUR Perumahan) and subsidized homes to improve accessibility to homeownership. Additionally, the Ministry is actively rehabilitating three major slum areas in Papua Induk, Jayapura, South Papua, and Sorong, demonstrating a holistic approach to regional development.