(introduction...)

Colombia has recently given new roles to old actors it

- reformed its institutions
- revised existing laws and regulations
- strengthened local governments
- created a subsidy for low-income home buyers

Bolivia, to confront its huge shelter deficit, has made reforms which include:

- new institutional arrangements
- new financial arrangements
- encouraging cooperation between public and private sectors
- increasing the role of the private sector
- increasing the role of local governments

The massive squatter settlement of Aguablanca, in Cali, Colombia, has been upgraded as a result of

- broad participation from the community, an NGO, a bank and the Cali Municipality
- modifying existing building regulations
- increasing the supply of affordable land
- upgrading existing buildings
- producing new housing units
- streamlining legal producers

Costa Rica's bamboo project has made a contribution to that country's housing needs by

- being environmentally sound
- using a low-cost, renewable resource - bamboo - for building
- promoting the use of ingenous building materials
- planting bamboo for future use in building

Low-income households in Chile have benefited from a targeted subsidy scheme which

- gives grants and subsidies to eligible low-income families
- makes loans available to middle - income families
- encourages personal savings

Latin America