This is a great innovative project! It is amazing how many people´s housing situation can be improved by this concept.
This extremelly pertinent considering that these days the news highlight how the high inflation rates in Argenitna are affecting the rental market even more than other sectors of the economy.
COngrtulations HFH Aregentina!
Connie
When walking around Buenos Aires, you see hundreds of buildings in complete disrepair, empty for years, a safety hazard to many on the streets, but with so much potential! It's such a waste, and the solution seems so obvious when reading about the project here - recycle these structures to provide dignified and fair housing for those most in need of it. Kill two birds with one stone - restore the eyesores plaguing the beauty of city AND give families a way to raise themselves out of poverty.
Hi Ana, Thanks for sharing such an innovative idea and well written entry! The project seems both scalable and effective and has had great success getting stakeholders involved at all levels. I'd be interested to learn more about the project component that helps individuals and families build their savings. How is the fair rent rate set? Is there financial counseling or other forms of assistance offered to tenants as a part of the program?
Melissa
Thanks for your interest in our project. Sorry for the delay in replying but I am just returning from summer holidays!
Regarding the financial support - in training as well as tools - we have a strong programme of financial literacy which is mostly focussed today on helping families administrate their income and expenditure and be able to save and if desired, take a loan responsibly. What we are planning and working on, is an adaptation of this programme to include areas more specifically related to long term savings and investments. We will ideally be encouraging families to save over 4 years to then go on to a more sustainable housing solution. We are working with the support of the Bank of the City of Buenos Aires who have expressed a keen interest in working on products adapted to this project. In Argentina today, it is extremely difficult for families with low incomes and no property collateral to take out a loan for housing. However, the City Bank is interested in looking at the 4 years track record of rental payments with HPHA, as sufficient guarantee. We are working on that! The City Bank hopes to convince the City Government to put up a trust fund as collateral for this.
On the fair rentals question, we had a volunteer working for 6 months on this issue, trying to uncover how rentals work around the world, and how to establish the level of a fair rent. There are various formulas which I could share with you. From all this analysis, we believe that - today - the fair rent rate is about 70% of the market rate in Buenos Aires. (The City of Buenos Aires has one of the highest rental rates, and therefore "least fair" worldwide).
I will be happy to answer any other questions you may have.
Ana y Hábitat para la Humanidad Argentina, este es un grandioso proyecto innovador que aprovecha una estructura física ya existente, mejorándola para cumplir con los estándares de una vivienda adecuada, y ofreciéndole a las personas en condicion de pobreza y exclusión de Buenos Aires una oportunidad basada en sus propias posibilidades. Es decir, una solución integral que procura el mejoramiento en la calidad de vida de las personas. ¡Muchas felicidades y gracias por este trabajo!
Comments
This is a great innovative project! It is amazing how many people´s housing situation can be improved by this concept.
This extremelly pertinent considering that these days the news highlight how the high inflation rates in Argenitna are affecting the rental market even more than other sectors of the economy.
COngrtulations HFH Aregentina!
Connie
When walking around Buenos Aires, you see hundreds of buildings in complete disrepair, empty for years, a safety hazard to many on the streets, but with so much potential! It's such a waste, and the solution seems so obvious when reading about the project here - recycle these structures to provide dignified and fair housing for those most in need of it. Kill two birds with one stone - restore the eyesores plaguing the beauty of city AND give families a way to raise themselves out of poverty.
This is a comprehensive urban development plan that once funded and implemented will add value to the lives of low income families in Buenos Aires!
Hi Ana, Thanks for sharing such an innovative idea and well written entry! The project seems both scalable and effective and has had great success getting stakeholders involved at all levels. I'd be interested to learn more about the project component that helps individuals and families build their savings. How is the fair rent rate set? Is there financial counseling or other forms of assistance offered to tenants as a part of the program?
Melissa
Thanks for your interest in our project. Sorry for the delay in replying but I am just returning from summer holidays!
Regarding the financial support - in training as well as tools - we have a strong programme of financial literacy which is mostly focussed today on helping families administrate their income and expenditure and be able to save and if desired, take a loan responsibly. What we are planning and working on, is an adaptation of this programme to include areas more specifically related to long term savings and investments. We will ideally be encouraging families to save over 4 years to then go on to a more sustainable housing solution. We are working with the support of the Bank of the City of Buenos Aires who have expressed a keen interest in working on products adapted to this project. In Argentina today, it is extremely difficult for families with low incomes and no property collateral to take out a loan for housing. However, the City Bank is interested in looking at the 4 years track record of rental payments with HPHA, as sufficient guarantee. We are working on that! The City Bank hopes to convince the City Government to put up a trust fund as collateral for this.
On the fair rentals question, we had a volunteer working for 6 months on this issue, trying to uncover how rentals work around the world, and how to establish the level of a fair rent. There are various formulas which I could share with you. From all this analysis, we believe that - today - the fair rent rate is about 70% of the market rate in Buenos Aires. (The City of Buenos Aires has one of the highest rental rates, and therefore "least fair" worldwide).
I will be happy to answer any other questions you may have.
Ana
Ana
Me parece un proyecto genial. Me alegro que este avanzando a pesar de toda la burocracia.
Ana y Hábitat para la Humanidad Argentina, este es un grandioso proyecto innovador que aprovecha una estructura física ya existente, mejorándola para cumplir con los estándares de una vivienda adecuada, y ofreciéndole a las personas en condicion de pobreza y exclusión de Buenos Aires una oportunidad basada en sus propias posibilidades. Es decir, una solución integral que procura el mejoramiento en la calidad de vida de las personas. ¡Muchas felicidades y gracias por este trabajo!
Desde Catálogo Arquitectura felicito a la Fundación Sagrada Familia por el proyecto Sume Materiales
Querida Anne, te felicito por llegar hasta acá y desde ya contá conmigo para sumar más votantes, pasamelo por facebook si querés, un abrazo, Margarita
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