Venezuela's Olympic athletes to get free housing from government

None of Venezuela's 87 Olympic athletes won gold this year, but they're getting another prize — new homes from the government.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced Monday that all the country's participants in the Olympics will get free housing upon their return from Rio de Janeiro. The apartments are part of the government housing program that is a cornerstone of the country's socialist revolution.

Maduro says this way the athletes will feel the love of their country.

Venezuela won three medals at the Rio Olympics: silver in the triple jump, bronze in boxing and bronze in BMX cycling.

The announcement is particularly surprising because Venezuela has been dealing with a devastating food shortage, as well as a lack of water, electricity, medicine, baby formula, toilet paper, car parts and other items. The South American country has been in a recession since the global collapse of oil prices in 2014. 

Looting and massive lines have been reported outside state-run supermarkets in recent months. In July, more than 35,000 citizens crossed the border into Colombia to purchase food.

Despite thousands of protests, these conditions have continued in Venezuela and many experts blame the government's socialist economic policies for the country's problems.