Homosexual couples may be prioritized in Brazil’s popular housing program

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Bill 1947/21 includes homosexual couples with their union recognized by the State among the groups to be prioritized in the selection and ranking of beneficiaries for the ‘Casa Verde e Amarela’ housing program.

Under analysis by the Chamber of Deputies, the draft amends Law 14.118/21 which deals with the program and currently provides that priority is granted to families in a risk or vulnerable situation, where a woman is the head of the household, or that include disabled or elderly people.

“In practice there is pure veiled discrimination, whereby LGBT families have tremendous difficulties in being selected,” says the bill’s author deputy Rafafá (PSDB-PB).

“The delays in getting answers expose the subtle and perverse discrimination to which these citizens have been submitted,” he points out.

Procedure

The bill will be analyzed in conclusive nature by the Chamber committees for Human Rights and Minorities, and Constitution and Justice and Citizenship.

‘Casa Verde e Amarela’ program

With the goal of assisting 1.6 million low-income families with housing loans until 2024, providing an increase of 350,000 homes and designed by the Ministry of Regional Development (MDR), the program intends to simplify the allocation of funds, through the reduction in interest rates, the use of savings from employees’ Guarantee Fund for Length of Service (FGTS), and changes in the financial agent’s remuneration.

In addition to housing loans, the program will entail land title and home improvements, facing inadequacy issues such as lack of bathrooms, for instance.

The goal is to regularize 2 million houses and improve 400,000 by 2024. After the publication of the Provisional Measure creating the program, proposals will be analyzed and approved by the FGTS and Social Development Fund (FDS) boards of trustees.