Background and Relevance
The Mexican housing finance organization, Fovissste (Fondo de la Vivienda del Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado), recently conducted a workday in the state of Chiapas. This event included delivering nearly 300 termination certificates as part of the Social Justice Program and promoting information about the Tú Construyes program. The event was led by Jabnely Maldonado Meza, the executive board member of Fovissste, with Dulce Rodríguez Ovando, Chiapas’ Secretary of Government and Mediation, representing Governor Óscar Eduardo Ramírez Aguilar.
Historical Debts and Program Redesign
Maldonado Meza acknowledged that Fovissste had historical backlogs in attending to its beneficiaries. She explained, “Fovissste owed workers of the State… For a long time, a financial vision prevailed, and the social aspect was neglected. This led to cases where people paid three times yet still owed more than the original loan amount.”
In response, Fovissste redesigned its credit program for 2026. The new program includes a revised statement, updated contracts, and more accessible interest rates to prevent prolonged cycles of debt.
Community Outreach and Housing Goals
Fovissste announced the implementation of “Fovissste in Your Community” in Chiapas, aiming to bring Fovissste services to remote areas. Maldonado Meza stated, “We want workers serving the State not to travel far; we will bring our modules directly to them in multiple municipalities, ensuring dignified and close-knit service.”
Chiapas plays a significant role in Fovissste’s housing program, aligned with the “Housing for Well-being” scheme. Nationally, this initiative aims to construct 100,000 homes, with 6,704 projected in Tuxtla Gutiérrez for low-income workers who lack their own housing.
“We will start building affordable housing that meets their needs,” Maldonado Meza emphasized.
Promoting Self-Production of Housing
During the visit, Fovissste held its fourth Information Assembly for the Tú Construyes program, which encourages self-production of housing by granting 1,000 credits with technical support throughout the process.
Currently, there are 37 registered technical assistants and 91 interested rightful beneficiaries in Chiapas. This scheme allows credit recipients to decide how and with whom to build their housing, whether on private property or ejido lands with verified possession.
According to Fovissste, these actions are part of their priorities for 2026, focusing on social justice and direct support to beneficiaries nationwide.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is Fovissste? Fovissste (Fondo de la Vivienda del Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado) is a Mexican housing finance organization that provides credit for workers to build or buy homes.
- What was the purpose of Fovissste’s visit to Chiapas? The main objectives were delivering termination certificates, promoting the Tú Construyes program, and addressing historical backlogs in attending to beneficiaries.
- What is the Tú Construyes program? It’s a Fovissste initiative that supports self-production of housing by granting credits with technical assistance throughout the building process.
- What is “Fovissste in Your Community”? It’s a new initiative to bring Fovissste services directly to remote areas in Chiapas, ensuring dignified and close-knit assistance for state workers.
- What are Fovissste’s housing goals in Chiapas? Fovissste aims to construct 6,704 affordable homes in Tuxtla Gutiérrez for low-income workers who lack their own housing, as part of the “Housing for Well-being” national scheme.
