As part of a housing project launched by the Kerala government, 192 homeless fishermen families were rehabilitated in modern apartments here on Wednesday. The beneficiaries of the housing scheme included families which had lost their huts due to sea erosion in the last several years and those who had been living in dilapidated houses within 50 metres from the sea. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the project by handing over keys to one of the beneficiaries at Muttathara. The apartments, built at a cost of Rs 17.5 crore, have been constructed in 24 blocs over 3.45 acres of land. Each house, with an area of 540 square ft, has two bedrooms, living room and kitchen. The complex has a community hall, garden, market, common store and an anganwadi. The residents are homeless families from various coastal villages in Thiruvananthapuram. Some of them have been staying in rehabilitation camps for the last several months. Four of the families had lost their men in the Ochki cyclone last year, said Fisheries Department sources. Fisheries Minister and CPI(M) leader J Mercykutty Amma said, The government wanted to give safe houses for homeless fishermen families. Most of the fishermen are staying in small houses or huts which don’t have basic facilities. The housing project would go a long way in ensuring social security for fishermen in Kerala.