A similar program on a municipal level might look something like this: 1) Public funds provide capital to build or buy a dwelling. Public owns dwelling outrigh

A similar program on a municipal level might look something like this: 1) Public funds provide capital to build or buy a dwelling. Public owns dwelling outright. 2) Individuals rent dwelling at market rate. Part of this money goes towards paying off inflation and the time value of money (equivalent to paying down mortgage interest), part goes to a fund in the individual's name (equivalent to paying down mortgage principal). 3a) Saved funds reach price paid for home. Ownership is transferred, public keeps the funds. 3b) Individuals leave early. The chunk of their payments that went to their fund is refunded. The proposal in the article looks like it's much more ambitious, and designed as a national program. This allows the fund to follow the individual, instead of being tied to a property. Instead of having the refund/buy option, it always pays back a dividend. So if you've paid enough rent that you're getting $200/month back, and you move, you still just get $200/month back.