COSTFORD is dedicated to changing the social, economic, and political position of marginalised and disadvantaged groups in society. In the mid-1980s, COSTFORD focused heavily on the improvement of housing and made significant gains in providing alternative philosophies and technologies for providing cost-effective, energy-efficient, and more appropriate housing for culture and climate for all income groups.

By the late 1990s, COSTFORD, with the Main Office in Thrissur taking the lead at the District Centre level, embarked upon second-generation programmes in extending assistance to weaker sections of society. By 1997, studies indicated attention needed to be focused on the empowerment of women. For example, women were not properly compensated for their work in the home and often lacked the skills to earn income outside the home. The economic potential of women needed to be increased with emphasis on education, skill-based training, and support services addressing gender-related challenges in society.

COSTFORD has steadily progressed in establishing capacity training programmes for everyone, from all sections of society, without gender differentiation. It has assisted over 5,00,000 people in building awareness to effect positive societal change, comprising social workers, engineers, home-based women, architects, construction workers, technologists, government officials, students, Panchayati Raj functionaries, people’s representatives, visitors from other parts of India and abroad.