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A total of 110,000 applications were submitted within a year to benefit from the direct housing assistance program, Minister of National Territorial Planning, Urbanism, Housing and City Policy Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri announced on Monday in Rabat.
Responding to an oral question on housing assistance at the House of Representatives, El Mansouri stated that the number of the program’s beneficiaries exceeded 35,000, including 26% Moroccan expatriates and 32% youth.
The Minister added that 63% of the beneficiaries received financial assistance of 70,000 dirhams, while 37% benefited from aid of 100,000 dirhams.
Regarding the economic impact of this program, she explained that it contributed to the growth of the construction sector, with a 9.45% increase in cement sales, a 1.7% rise in real estate loans, and a 7.2% growth in loans granted to real estate developers.
El Mansouri highlighted that the direct housing assistance program aims to extend support to cities that have not sufficiently benefited from the social housing program, such as Settat, El Jadida, Benslimane, Oujda, Berkane, and Taza.
She noted that the annual production of housing units for low and middle-income groups, including self-construction, stands at approximately 113,000 units.
As for the goals set for 2024, the Minister stated that the program surpassed its target of 75,000 housing units, combining direct assistance and social housing, to reach 94,000 units, reaching a 125% achievement rate.
On this occasion, she reviewed the progress of previous housing programs launched in 2002, noting their positive outcomes. By November 2024, approximately 727,000 housing units had obtained certificates of compliance under the social housing program (250,000 dirhams), of which 680,000 units were delivered. Additionally, around 30,000 units had received certificates of compliance under the low-cost housing program (140,000 dirhams).
El Mansouri clarified that the government has launched a new direct housing assistance program for the 2024-2028 period. This program aims to address the housing needs of middle and low-income groups and contribute to reducing the housing deficit by involving the private sector, particularly small and medium-sized businesses.
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