The Chilean People 49Chile is still a young country. Twenty fi ve per cent of the population is
under the age of 15, although indicators show that this trend is reversing.
Residents have legal title to their property and access to
electricity and running water. A very important side effect
has been the sharp rise in health indexes. Infant mortality,
maternal mortality and malnutrition levels are now almost
on par with developed countries.
There have been a number of criticisms levelled at the
housing programme. First, the houses are very small which
leads to overcrowding, especially when extended family
members share the same roof. In Chile a relative will always
be taken in until he can get back on his feet. Second, the
people were relocated to cheap land on the periphery of
the city. Third, the low quality of the construction materials
became terribly evident following heavy rains, when many
homes were damaged.