Housing Microfinance Blog Series
In this blog series, we explore how housing microfinance can bring access to affordable housing solutions to low-income populations. The case studies will present a variety of housing finance products and services that are currently serving BoP clients and demonstrate the importance of cross-sector cooperation in facilitating outcomes.
The demand for affordable housing is estimated to have reached 330 million urban households. Despite this demand, there is a severe lack of affordable housing supply. Why is this? What are the factors influencing the affordability of housing for the BoP? We take a look in our introductory post to the Housing Micofrinance Blog Series.
In our first case study in the Housing Microfinance Blog Series, we explore the case of Credifamilia, a Colombian microfinance institution. This case demonstrates how microfinance institutions can work with motivated housing developers and governments to provide effective housing solutions for low-income customers.
A Colombian employee benefits fund known as Comfama shows that housing finance is not only in the domain of microfinance institutions. Through a rent-to-own business model, Comfama helps low-income customers find a home while building their credit history.
Jamii Bora is a microfinance institution that successfully developed an affordable, green neighborhood of 2,000 homes in Kaputei, Kenya. We analyze the strengths of the project's business model and offer insights about what the accomplishments reveal for the affordable housing sector.
