Good Practices and Innovations in Public Governance 2003-2011

Good Practices and InnovATIONS in Public Governance
In many countries and for many people the concept of public housing is mostly used
as a housing pro gramme of low quality and insecure place to stay in. But in Singapore,
the Housing Development Board (HDB) flats offer their residents “quality lifestyles in
quality buildings”. Before the programme started, most people lived in squatter colonies
and city slums. In 1960, a housing programme was launched to build low-cost
public housing. Basic self-contained units with piped water, electricity and sewer discharge,
was ini tially let at low rents to low-income families. However, in many countries
and for many people the concept of public housing is mostly used as a housing
pro gramme of low quality and an insecure place to stay in. But in Singapore, the
Housing Development Board (HDB) flats offer their residents “quality lifestyles in
quality buildings”. Before the programme started, most people lived in squatter colonies
and city slums. In 1960, a housing programme was launched to build low-cost
public housing. Basic self-contained units with piped water, electricity and sewer discharge,
was ini tially let at low rents to low-income families. However,
The Solution
It was estimated then that about 14,000 new housing units annually were needed to
cater to the rapid increase in population, relieve overcrowding in the city and to rehouse
poor families affected by slum clearance. Responding to the crisis, a new housing
authority, the Housing & Development Board (HDB) was set up in February
1960 to spearhead provision of sanitary and affordable housing to the population.
Public housing took top priority under the newly-elected government, and HDB was
given full financial and legislative support to carry out its tasks.
An immediate task of HDB was to provide as many low-cost housing units as possible,
within the shortest time. The apartments, known as HDB flats, were designed to be
self-contained units, with piped water, electricity, sewer discharge and adequate living
space for families. In the first five years of its existence, the HDB built 50,000 flats, a
remarkable feat, considering that the colonial government took 30 years to provide
only 23,000 flats. Within ten years, the severe housing shortage was largely resolved.
Initially, the flats were let at low rents to low-income families. However, to forge nation
building and community development for a multi-racial society, the government
decided to move away from rental housing to leasehold ownership flats by encouraging
Home Ownership. Owning a home would instil pride and a sense of belonging
among the people, which also would enable them to have a stake in nation-building.
The “Home Ownership for People Scheme” was introduced in 1964 to help Singaporean
families own their HDB flats. Today, there are more than 800,000 HDB flats
in Singapore, housing over 80% of Singapore’s resident population of about four
million. Almost all (95%) HDB households own their homes. An equally high proportion
(94%) of HDB residents are satisfied with their flats (based on HDB’s five-
208