Background and objectives

The development of home credit for low-income people is a top priority for the Colombian Government and is part of their poverty reduction strategy. The government has operated a well funded subsidy programme to address the housing needs of low income families but this has only experienced a 50 per cent take up due to inability of low income families to fund the gap between the subsidy and cost of purchase of a low-cost residential unit.

Activities:
The main activities included:

• Training workshop on mortgage credit and microcredit
• Conference on the State of Social Housing in Colombia.
• Three Expert Group Meetings
• Seminar on The constitution of 1991 and financing social housing.
• Coordination of the National Superior Housing Council (CSV)
• Inputs provided to the drafting of the National Development Plan.

Results:
The results achieved were:

• Update of the principal tools for social housing policy related to microcredit
• Cost analysis of originating and managing mortgage credits for social housing
• Evaluation and assessment of tools to support social housing development
• Evaluation of programmed savings for social housing credits
• Characterization of real estate markets for rental housing for urban poor
• Update of guarantee for social housing and the National Guarantee Fund (FNG)”
• “Constitutional framework for economic decisions: Case of financing social housing in Colombia
• Economic cycle of the construction sector in Colombia
• Incomes and housing for all – general equilibrium, economic cycles and capitalization of the poor
• Analysis of the UPAC system and housing finance models
• Constitutional policies for housing in Colombia
• Modifications of juridical precedents and the autonomy of  territorial entities