Landlords in Goma are struggling to rent units due to the U.S. aid cuts. One landlord discussing his units in an apartment building that he would rent out for $500 a month said: “I now rent some of them for $200, sometimes even $150, just to keep them from standing empty."
Date: 6/25
Region: Africa
Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Topic: Economy & Livelihoods
Policy Lens: Economic & Trade Interests
Entry Type: Secondary Effect
Additional Context: This information was collected as part of The Aid Report’s original reporting, “In eastern DRC, Goma's aid economy unravels.” This feature story examines how the effects of aid cuts extend far beyond NGOs. As programs close and international staff leave, families are losing income, apartments are sitting empty, and businesses are closing.
This quote is attributed to Timothe Byamungu, a landlord in Goma who owns a five-unit apartment building, who said his income has dropped sharply since the NGO slowdown. Previously, he rented each apartment for about $500 a month, mainly to expatriates and local staff working for NGOs. Today, he struggles to collect even half of that income.
Source: Devex