Morocco's housing support program benefits thousands and boosts economy

Morocco’s Direct Housing Support Program has successfully reached 48,000 beneficiaries since its inception on January 2, 2024. The program has secured funding totaling MAD 3.8 billion (approximately $380 million), according to Fatima Zahra El Mansouri, Minister of National Territory Planning, Urban Planning, Housing and City Policy.

During an oral questions session at the House of Representatives, El Mansouri disclosed that the initiative has received over 128,500 applications, with 22% originating from Moroccans living abroad.

“Fifty-four percent of beneficiaries received support valued at MAD 70,000 ($7,000), while 46% obtained MAD 100,000 ($10,000), covering at least one-third of housing acquisition costs for this category,” the minister stated.

The program is built on five key pillars, transitioning from tax exemptions to direct consumer purchasing power support. Its primary goal is to enable low and middle-income families to access housing, while also diversifying residential offerings to include both apartments and individual houses.

Notably, the initiative has removed the prior requirement of constructing 500 units to qualify for benefits, thereby encouraging the participation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). “More than 80% of companies involved are classified as SMEs, breaking the monopoly that large corporations previously held over housing programs,” El Mansouri remarked.

The economic impact has been substantial, with cement consumption experiencing an increase of 11.64% in February compared to the same period last year. Additionally, housing loans rose by 2%, while loans to property developers increased by 6.62%.

Geographically, beneficiaries are predominantly located in three main regions: Casablanca-Settat (35%), Fez-Meknes (31%), and Rabat-Sale-Kenitra (12%). The program has also addressed housing needs in cities that had historically received insufficient benefits from previous initiatives, including Fez, Settat, El Jadida, Benslimane, Oujda, Berkane, and Taza.

Furthermore, the digitization of the application process has streamlined procedures and enhanced transparency in the distribution of benefits. “In addition to this program, the new approach to combating slums has revitalized the social housing program, allowing us to reach 90,000 government-supported units in 2024,” El Mansouri concluded.