Abstract for: Housing project for the poor A plan with no aim

A state housing plan, called Mehr, by the Iranian government is criticized in this paper. The plan aimed to help the poor to invest in affordable housing and enjoy low interest bank loans. The plan did not succeed as promised. The growth rate of the construction remained almost the same, and at most sites the houses did not get ready for inhabitants. Banks invested, by state force, a lot, and there is no hope to get the loans back. The focus of the paper is on the satisfaction of the people who invested in this plan. The case studied is a small town in the center of the country. Different alternatives to the plan are investigated using a SD model. The main criticism against the plan is to change the small towns with very low rise buildings to accommodate medium rise buildings while the land is freely available, and the maintenance charges to keep buildings is more than the income of the inhabitants.