Sustainable Housing? Charting New Frontiers in Singapore
Tags: asia, homelessness, public housing, Singapore, Vancouver
The issue of homelessness is at the forefront of debates, both formal and informal, and is a reality I see every day in Vancouver, Canada. As the 2010 Olympics start take over the city, many wonder what will happen to the city’s large homeless population.
Housing and Development Board flats in the Little India district of Singapore. Thanks to Linkway88 for the Creative Commons photo.
In contrast, homelessness is widely believed to be nonexistent in Singapore, a city state in Southeast Asia. More than 85% of the Singaporean population lives in housing subsidized through the Housing and Development Board (HDB), Singapore’s public housing authority. This week, the HDB is hosting an event to showcase and boast about the HDB’s achievements over the last 50 years. Subitled, “Sustainable Housing : Charting New Frontiers”, the International Housing Conference features more than thirty experts and speakers from all over the world.
The HDB’s achievements are undeniable: in 2008 it was awarded the United Nations Public Service Award. However, after fifty years, its policies, especially in the context of an increasing number of foreigners, an ageing local population and an expanding income gap, are under widespread scrutiny. The issue is no longer simply one of making sure there are homes for everyone, but one of whether Singaporeans are able to afford these homes.
Despite the often-repeated refrain “HDB flats are still affordable” by government ministers, an increasing number of home owners are defaulting on their mortgage loans. Another indicator that HDB flats are priced beyond the means of lower-income and elderly residents is the waiting period for public rental housing, which can be as long as two years. In response to these concerns, the government has announced that it will build more rental flats in the next three years, bringing the total of public rental units up to 50,000.
Homeless Vancouver residents sleep on the steps of a downtown church. Thanks to Andrew Ferguson for the Creative Commons photo.
An increasing number of home owners, unable to pay their loans, either have had their flats repossessed by the HDB or the banks, or were forced to sell them. A rental flat is their last chance for a roof over their heads. But with such long waiting periods for these, these people have no choice but to put up wherever they can. Many are denied rental flats because, under the HDB rules, having sold their flat, they must wait for thirty months before they are eligible under the Public Rental Scheme. In the end, some have nowhere to go and end up living in parks or other public spaces.
While the HDB trumpets its achievements to an international audience, it must keep in mind that a growing population can no longer afford its flats. Singapore needs more sustainable housing.
Meanwhile, this Monday, Vancouver was ranked the least affordable housing market of nearly 300 metropolitan markets worldwide, according to a study released by the Frontier Centre for Public Policy. If somewhere like Singapore with a strong tradition of public housing is experiencing difficulty housing their most vulnerable, than what does it mean for the at-risk population in Vancouver?
