The Ministry of Housing and Human Settlements (MIVAH) recently approved changes to regulations that increased the income cap for housing assistance in Costa Rica.

Now, households with a total combined income of up to ₡776 thousand colones (about $1,000) can qualify for a “bono familiar de vivienda” or a family housing grant. This expands the number of household eligible for such assistance.

The grants cover expenses for building a house, and families who meet the income requirements and who have lost housing due to flooding or other natural disasters can apply for the assistance, said the Ministry of Housing.

Other changes aimed at increasing the number of affected families and individuals who can access housing aid include expediting the procedure for people with damages to their property. This will be achieved by allowing low-income families to base their claims for housing aid on existing income verification paperwork on file with the Institute for Mixed Social Aid (IMAS, in Spanish).