State building finance institutions, which are non-profit-making and whose
overheads are normally borne by the general public -- that is, for example, subsidised
through the state budget - do not need to reflect on such break-evenpoint
aspects with regard to minimum levels for loans. Nevertheless, they too
have minimum loan amounts, dictated by the costs of land acquisition, development
measures, building material and wages. Even in so-called low-cost housing,
these expenses soon reach levels which the great majority of the target group can
no longer afford.’ 3 According to United Nations investigations, households with a
monthly family income of $25 can spend about 1.25% of this income on housing,
those with $50 about 4%, those earning $75 about 7.5% and those with $100
about 15%. The majority might have about 6%-10% available for this purpose.‘4
In Latin America, however, for housing one low-income family in an urban area,
costs of at least $1,500 are estimated, which corresponds to a monthly burden of
a little less than $15, according to the annuity formula” at 10% interest over a
period of 20 years. Hence, only a minority of the poor can take part in such
projects. In Guatemala, for example, these would be the ones who receive at least
the minimum wage, fixed by the state, of about $100 a month.