Curitiba, 4/22/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The president of the Habitation Company of Paraná, Luiz Cláudio Romanelli, says his state is in tune with the federal government's housing projects and will be in the forefront of the effort with the result that low-income families in the state will receive benefits. Romanelli said such housing depends on close cooperation between states and the federal government.

Pointing out that there is some R$5.3 billion available for housing this year and that important changes are about to made in the system, such as raising loan caps from R$4,000 to R$6,500, and the ceiling on family income from R$580 to R$720, Romanelli said that this year some 44,000 homes could be built. (AB)