The Office for Assisting Cooperative Housing Projects (BAHSO) was established in 1986 and a revolving fund was created in 1998. Over 300 housing cooperatives have been established to date with saving worth over $20 m. Local materials are used in construction and savings/credit schemes help to make the housing affordable to the poorest. BAHSO charges a 1 per cent fee compared to the private sector equivalent of 8-9 per cent. State help is received in the payment of the salaries of supervising staff and the operating costs of running the organisation. The main areas of BAHSO’s work include supporting communities in the implementation of their housing projects, fostering and developing low income household savings, creating bank credit channels through a revolving fund and reducing the cost of social housing through community involvement.

Partnership

National government, local government, local community