Government to provide housing subsidies to those who do not return to Chaitén

SANTIAGO.- The minister of Housing, Patricia Poblete, announced today that the government will be issuing housing subsidies to families that are not able to return to the town of Chaitén or its surroundings, allowing them to purchase houses located in a different locale.

Minister Poblete said that up until yesterday, there had not been any damage to homes “because all we had was ash on roofs, but today the situation has radically changed” with the overflow of the Chaitén River, which left some 30 homes flooded.

Nevertheless, Poblete did not wish to speak too soon about whether the city will be able to be repopulated or not, saying that residents must wait to see the course of events.

The minister added that the Executive Branch has made an important investment in the zone, due to the fact that they have been implementing the “Plan Palena” since last year, a project that has required more than 2 billion pesos and, upon completion, will have reached 7 billion pesos.