Minister Says Brazil Considers Social Rent for ‘Minha Casa Minha Vida’

By Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The federal government is studying the introduction of an affordable “social rent” for beneficiaries of “Minha Casa Minha Vida”, said Regional Development Minister Gustavo Canuto on Friday, 24th.

He was in Petrolina (PE) with president Jair Bolsonaro for the inauguration of a housing complex under the program.

Under this system, the government provides rental income for a family to maintain a home for a certain period. Municipalities and state governments currently run such programs in the country.

Under today’s rules, beneficiaries of “Minha Casa Minha Vida” purchase the apartment through financing granted by the federal government of up to 90 percent.

“In some cases, social rental and social lease, are the most suitable. In others, it’s the transfer of the property. However, it is still a proposal that is being discussed and will be screened by society, Caixa Econômica, and the Ministry of Economy,” said the minister.

Canuto told “O Estado de S. Paulo” newspaper on Friday that changes are under study by financing programs for the poorest, for families with incomes of up to R$1,800 or US$ 450 (named “faixa 1” in Minha Casa Minha Vida) and up to R$2,600 (“faixa 1.5”). There are still no details on how the project will work.

In Petrolina, Canuto spoke of having identified “flaws”, without being specific, and the need to improve the program. In the interview with Estado, he said that one of the flaws was the sale of apartments by beneficiaries of the program – selling is forbidden.

The federal government will invest R$11.6 (US$ 2,6) billion in new contracts for “Minha Casa Minha Vida”, according to Canuto. “There’s no such thing as the program stopped.”

The Ministry of Regional Development informed that the national housing policy is being redesigned and that the introduction of a social rental scheme is an option.