Rental Housing: Opening Doors for Low-income Households

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For a family, homeownership is a very important resource given the economic, psychological and social benefits it offers. But not all people have the capacity for homeownership. Those with low incomes are obviously at a disadvantage. Even government social security programs have been ineffective in assisting the poor toward homeownership. What then could be more viable housing option for the poorer segment of the population? A strategy that is increasingly being looked into in many countries to address the housing needs of low-income families and improve their living conditions is to develop the rental housing market. This issue’s cover article discusses the relevance of this housing strategy for the low-income sector especially in light of the worsening poverty and the deepening urban development in the country that makes land even more expensive.