The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development covers 17 goals, the eleventh of which is "Sustainable Cities and Communities", namely: Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. 

Under this major goal, there are ten targets, the first of which is "By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums".

● Current Situation

About the World

Issues Caused by Rapid Urbanization

Rapid urbanization is resulting in a growing number of slum dwellers, inadequate and overburdened infrastructure and services (such as waste collection and water and sanitation systems, roads and transport), worsening air pollution and unplanned urban sprawl. The impact of COVID-19 will be most devastating in poor and densely populated urban areas, especially for the one billion people living in informal settlements and slums worldwide, where overcrowding also makes it difficult to follow recommended measures such as social distancing and self-isolation. 

Text and photo source: un.org

About China

Increase Investment in Building Affordable Housing

Housing is something important for people's livelihood and development. It is about people having good and prosperous life with comfortable jobs, and the overall situation of economic and development as well as social harmony and stability. In 2022, it is expected that China would invest a total amount of about 850 billion yuan in capital construction of indemnificatory rental housing. "Every one has a place to live" is China’s housing policy goal to ensure that everyone has the housing rights, no matter it is owned or rented, for the purpose of living in dignity without overcrowding and at the same time it can meet safety and health standards, and community and public services are accessible. The proportion of household housing expenditure in disposable income is reasonable and does not overcrowd other basic living consumption.

Text source: workercn.com

●  Cases

About the World

Singapore Public Housing System

In Asian cities, public housing is the only way for poor and low-income families to get adequate and low-cost housing.

Photo source: sohu.com

Singapore has the most comprehensive system of state intervention through direct housing construction. In 2002, it was estimated that 85% of the total population of 3.3 million lived in public housing units, which were maintained within the price range that most families could afford through state subsidies. Of this total, 96% of housing is directly owned by residents and 4% is obtained through rental. Singapore's public housing scheme is based on subsidised mortgage finance and is carried out through the setting of interest rate. The success of this plan is partly due to the rapid growth of Singapore's economy. At the same time, it is also due to the fact that the Singapore government owns 85% of the country's land, which makes the basis for obtaining land to build public housing.

Text source: Low Cost Land and Housing in Asia by UN Habitat

About China 

Shenzhen Public Housing Programme

Shenzhen continues to optimize the housing supply structure and vigorously develop rental housing system. The city accelerates building affordable rental housing and develop the long-term rental housing market.

On 29 November 29 2021, Shenzhen Housing and Construction Bureau released the public housing programme Phoenix Yinghui City, with a total housing supply of 9672 units, of which 6668 units will be allocated to the public rental housing on the waiting list, and the remaining 3004 units to the scientists of Guangming Science City and the enterprises and institutions mainly supported by Guangming provincial government. Phoenix Yinghui City is the largest public housing project under construction in Shenzhen, and the eight Chinese academicians have introduced their scientific research achievements into it, It will change people's concept that affordable housing is "low-end housing" and build up a "model housing" in the field of public housing construction.

Text and photo source: sznews.com

●  Background

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Initiated by the United Nations

On 1 January, 2016, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including 169 targets, of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development — adopted by world leaders in September 2015 at an historic UN Summit — officially came into force. Countries will mobilize efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change, while ensuring that no one is left behind.