Solving the Housing Crisis Source : SS Teachers’ Resource CD (Upper Sec)/Practice of Good Governance CDR1/SSS4RCD_A/03/New Housing Plan/2:09
Learning Objectives Public housing policies in Singapore & HK How public housing contributes to the development of Singapore & HK
1.1 Solving the Housing Crisis 1959 : Growth of Slums and Squatter areas Rapid population growth Increased immigration Est 500,000 lived in these areas Electricity and piped water lacking Poor sanitation Immediate need to solve housing problem Newly-elected govt saw building homes, esp for lower- income group, as an urgent task Urban Renewal : Process in which older parts of an urban area are either renovated or rebuilt to meet changing needs
1.1 Solving the Housing Crisis Housing and Development Board (1960) To replace the ineffective Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT) Responsible for housing & improving living conditions of the people Public housing, Urban renewal* & Resettlement came under the control of HDB Urban Renewal : Process in which older parts of an urban area are either renovated or rebuilt to meet changing needs
Ü First Five-Year Plan (1960) To build many flats quickly and cheaply To accommodate large number of lower-income group Cost kept low to make housing affordable for the lower-income group Most housing estates built within 8 km of city centre 150,000 units of housing needed from 1961 to Solving the Housing Crisis
Resettlement To relieve overcrowding in the city area Resettle people affected by clearance of slums Land Acquisition Act Government could acquire land from people who owns it and to compensate these land owners Small-scale farmers were most affected; reluctant to move 1.1 Solving the Housing Crisis
Bukit Ho Swee Fire (May 1961)
After the Fire
Environment Source : SS Teachers’ Resource CD (Upper Sec)/Practice of Good Governance CDR1/SSS4RCD_A/03/Environment/1:46
First Five Year Building Programme
Ü Land is scarce in Singapore –Planning is necessary –Part of the plan for Singapore’s overall development Ü Need for high-rise, high- density flats –To maximize land use –Tanglin Halt, Queenstown –Each flat has its own toilet and kitchen –Facilitated by shops and markets in the neighbourhood –Flats mostly for rent 1.2 Maximising Land Use
“Housing Week” Source : SS Teachers’ Resource CD (Upper Sec)/Practice of Good Governance CDR1/SSS4RCD_A/03/Housing /2:46
Ü The New Towns (Eg Toa Payoh) – : 54,430 units of flats –Centred around city centre –Need to develop housing estates that were more self- contained –Devt of such towns started as early as 1964 –Adaptations of British new town models 1.3 Building Self-Contained Towns
Ü The New Towns (Eg Toa Payoh) –Independent of city centre –Inclusion of of recreational and educational facilities Shopping centres and schools –Inclusion of industrial estates Employment for residents –Bus Terminals Improvement in transportation Toa Payoh is one such example 1.3 Building Self-Contained Towns
TOA PAYOH 2002 Source : SS Teachers’ Resource CD (Upper Sec)/Practice of Good Governance CDR1/SSS4RCD_A/03/Toa Payoh/1:51
Ü Reasons for encouraging home ownership –Financial security –Giving the people a stake in the well-being of the country –Sense of pride and belonging 1.4 Encouraging Home Ownership
Ü Schemes to encouraging home ownership –1964 : Outright purchase or –Monthly instalments over 5-10 years –Initially, people unable to afford to pay by cash –1968 : Allowed the use of CPF savings –Various other schemes to help home ownership –Eg those who rented flats from the govt able to purchase rental flats at discount 1.4 Encouraging Home Ownership
Ü Effects of home ownership –Easier to own homes as no one is required to pay large sums of money at one go –Opt for payment over a number of years –Motivates Singaporeans to work hard to pay off their homes –Gives Singaporeans a stake in the country –Singaporeans will want peace so that homes and properties will not be destroyed –Home ownership contributes to economic, social and political stability of Singapore 1.4 Encouraging Home Ownership