Kerala State Housing Board (KSHB)

The Kerala State Housing Board came into existence on 5th March 1971 as a continuation of the Thiruvananthapuram Urban Reform Trust established in 1961, in line with the national policy and vision. Subject to the provisions of the Kerala State Housing Board Act, 1971, an organized and planned systematic system is required to satisfactorily meet the housing needs of people belonging to various income groups. The transition from the Thiruvananthapuram Urban Reform Trust to the Kerala State Housing Board provided a strong foundation to effectively meet these housing challenges.

Kerala State Housing Board (KSHB), one of the major implementing agencies in the housing sector under the Government of Kerala, has provided residential facilities to prospective beneficiaries through its public housing schemes. In 2024-25, the Kerala State Housing Board implemented schemes such as the Grihasree housing scheme, Working Women’s Hostel, EWS/LIG housing scheme and Aswas rental housing scheme near Medical Colleges. KSHB is trying to address the housing needs of economically weaker sections who are not eligible for house under the LIFE Mission.

Under the Grihasree housing scheme, 1,585 houses have been constructed since 2018-19, of which, 141 houses were constructed in 2024-25. Under LakshamVeedu scheme, construction of 1 house at Maranchery (Malapuram), 14 houses at Puthoor (Marathakara, Thrissur) and 4 houses at Madakathara (Mattampuram) were completed and remaining houses are at various stages of construction. Administrative sanction obtained for MN Suvarna Bhavanam projects for modernising dilapidated Laksham Veedu houses.

Under EWS/LIG Scheme, completed projects include 36 flats at Pattuvam (Kannur) and 11 houses at Thrikkaipetta (Wayanad). Steps have been taken to ensure the timely completion of the 36 flats at Mukkam (Kozhikode). Loan-Linked Subsidy Scheme (MIG Housing) aimed at middle-income groups who are generally left out of housing subsidies. This scheme enables affordable homeownership through a combination of institutional loans and targeted subsidy support. This fills a critical gap not addressed by LIFE Mission or LSGIs, as on August 31, 2025, first installment distributed to 60 people under the scheme.

Under Women’s Hostels SASCI for women empowerment and social security, KSHB is implementing Working Women’s Hostels in seven districts namely Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta, Thrissur, Kottayam, Idukki, Kozhikode, and Kannur

The Swapnakoodu Project is an innovative housing initiative, implemented in Kollam district with the objective of providing safe and affordable housing to deserving families. The project was initially approved for the construction of 75 houses, undertaken in collaboration with Local Self Government Institutions and the Government on a 60:40 cost-sharing basis.

Working women’s hostel at Balaramapuram, (Thiruvannathapuarm), Ranni (Pathanamthitta), Mulamkunathukavu (Thrissur), Gandhinagar (Kottayam), Mattanoor (Kannur), Kozhikode are in the implementation stage. The construction started for 12 flat in Kanjangad under housing scheme for Govt. Employees in Govt. land.

Aswas rental housing scheme provides accommodation to the patients and by-standers of medical colleges at an affordable rate. Thrissur project has been completed, while Alappuzha and Kannur are under construction. In Kottayam and Idukki, land has been allotted to the Board by Medical College and MoU has been executed.

‘Thanteyidam’ (My own space) scheme aims at providing housing to homeless children in welfare homes run by the government or by nongovernment organisations who have to leave the institutions when they reach 18 years of age. The KSHB implements the scheme in collaboration with the Department of Women and Child Development. The scheme caters to the housing needs of beneficiaries not listed in any of the housing schemes of central or state governments. The most striking feature of this scheme is that while identifying beneficiaries, priority is given to women, especially the survivors of POCSO. Beneficiaries identified by the Women and Child Development Department are given houses/flats constructed by KSHB under its scheme for economically weaker sections (EWS)/ low-income groups (LIG). In budget 2024-25 and 2025-26, Rs 2.00 crore each has been earmarked for the Thanteyidam project.

Under the Rental Housing Schemes (RHS), the construction of housing projects for Government employees is in progress at Vellarikund and Kanjangad in Kasaragod district. The Kozhikode project has been completed and inaugurated. While administrative sanction has been received for Mananthavady for undertaking preliminary activities, including feasibility studies, towards the implementation of the scheme at Erimayoor in Palakkad district during the financial year 2025–26.