Efforts to build more social housing

​In recent years, Bien Hoa has urged businesses to invest in the construction of social housing projects (SHs) and initially showed results, which contributing to relieve pressure on housing for people.

Social housing area in Quang Vinh ward, Bien Hoa city

More social housing projects

Department of Construction said Dong Nai had planned 49 social housing projects with the scale of 158 hectares, equivalent to about 30,000 units. Up to now, there are 9 projects which are being built. At present, the provincial People's Committee is urging investors to quickly implement social housing projects and those projects that will be withdrawn will call for investment. It is expected that by 2025, 8,000 units will be completed and 16,000 units by 2030.

Since the beginning of 2020, the provincial People's Committee has implemented solutions, accelerated the progress of projects on social housing with the goal of resolving housing for low-income people and can exceed the goals set out in the resolution.

Particularly in Bien Hoa, along with the efforts of the Government, some investors have paid attention, studied and initially built social housing projects in the area. Some typical projects such as social housing in Quang Vinh ward - Bien Hoa city, Buu Long social housing, project in Tam Hoa ward, etc., which has provided accommodation for tens of thousands of people, including a portion for low-cost social housing.

It is expected that in 2020, there will be 3 social housing projects in operation with nearly 770 apartments in Bien Hoa City and Nhon Trach District. In particular, only the social housing project of Tam Hoa ward (Bien Hoa City) is 23 floors high with 456 units. “We are currently urgently executing the remaining items to complete and conduct handing over the apartment to the buyers in November 2020.”

Bien Hoa is also calling for investment in new social housing projects to meet more and more people's housing needs; However, the call is facing difficulties, it requires effort from the government and the cooperation of the business community.

Dreaming of Settling Down

Investment in social housing construction faces more difficulties than commercial housing because of low profit margins, complicated loan appraisal by banks. Even when this project is implemented, homebuyers (low-income people) also need low-cost financial policies to support them in the long run.

In 2015, the Government issued Decree No. 100/2015/ND-CP on providing preferential loans for low-income people to buy houses through the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies. But in 2015, 2016 and 2017, Dong Nai Bank for Social Policies was not allocated capital and only VND 20 billion was allocated in 2018. Because there are no preferential loans with interest rates, many low-income people cannot afford to buy houses, and the investors of social housing projects have to delay the project schedule.

The development of social housing is a more humane, community story than a mere business. Along with investing in high-rise buildings and commercial apartments, building social housing is one of Bien Hoa's priorities. According to Bien Hoa City People's Committee Chairman Pham Anh Dung, the effort for the dream of settling down for low-income people is a big responsibility of the city. Besides, the construction of many low-cost social houses contributes to stabilizing construction order in the area, people will be less pressured to buy land via manual paper and build without permission because of financial constraints. This also helps to limit violations as happened in the past.

 By Phan Anh​