Spain to provide renting aid for low-income families

The Spanish government on Friday said it would help families with low income to pay their rent as a part of its Housing Plan 2013-2016 passed by the cabinet meeting earlier the same day.According to Spanish Minister of Public Works Ana Pastor, only families earning less than 1,597 euros (about 2,079 U.S. dollars) a month would be able to benefit from this measure, while the flat rent cannot exceed 600 euros per month. The financial aid would cover up to 40 percent of the rent.Families will receive this financial aid for a year up to a maximum of 4,200 euros with the possibility of extension.According to Pastor, renting houses is "a suitable way to access to housing, especially for those who have lower incomes." The minister predicted that around 133,000 Spaniards could benefit from these measures.The Spanish Cabinet on Friday passed the 2013-2016 housing plan that foresees an investment of 2.311 billion euros not only for renting aid but also for housing rehabilitation and energy efficiency in buildings.