Morocco’s housing assistance program faces backlog of more than 109,000 eligible applicants

More than 109,000 applicants who qualified for Morocco’s direct housing assistance program have yet to receive financial support, while the country continues to face a housing deficit estimated at 300,000 units, according to figures presented by the housing minister to Parliament.

The government had received 263,840 applications as of November 4, of which 237,456 met the eligibility requirements. However, only 127,707 applicants had received assistance, Housing Minister Samir Belfkih said Monday during a presentation of his department’s draft 2027 budget.

Beneficiaries therefore account for 53.8% of eligible applications, leaving more than 109,000 qualified applicants still waiting for support.

The program assisted 33,649 people in 2024, 48,671 in 2025 and 45,387 so far in 2026.

The government has allocated MAD 10.5 billion to the scheme, helping finance property purchases worth a combined MAD 52.5 billion. The subsidy covers an average of 20% of the purchase price, leaving buyers to finance the remaining 80%, excluding additional costs.

Belfkih said the program had coincided with increased construction activity and housing finance.

Slum clearance program still faces challenges

Morocco’s housing challenges extend beyond access to homeownership, with thousands of households continuing to live in informal settlements or buildings at risk of collapse.

A total of 121,940 households were still living in slums in 2026, according to the ministry. Of these, 8,921 were covered by completed housing units, while 69,080 were linked to projects under construction and 39,785 to projects still under study. Another 4,151 households had yet to be included in a planned intervention.

Since its launch in 2004, the Cities Without Slums program has improved housing conditions for 392,284 households out of an initial target of 514,224, representing 76% of the total, according to the ministry.

The initiative has cost MAD 76 billion, including MAD 16.98 billion contributed by the housing ministry.

Authorities have declared 63 of the 85 cities covered by the program free of slums, leaving informal settlements in 22 cities.

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