Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Taipei mayoral candidate Chen Shih-chung (陳時中) yesterday said he would build at least 57,000 public housing units in Taipei within four years if he is elected mayor of Taipei.
“One determination, two supports and three cares,” is how Chen summarized his housing policy, with the “determination” being to establish 57,000 social housing units within four years.
Only about 2 percent of the homes in Taipei are public housing, which is lower than the standard of about 5 percent in many advanced countries, and his goal is to achieve about 6 percent, Chen said.
Photo: George Tsorng, Taipei Times
The proposed units would include about 40,000 new social housing units with the government subletting and managing about 17,000 existing private units, he said.
Of the 40,000 new units, 19,444 units are being constructed or have recently been finished, 9,021 have been planned by the central or city government, and 11,535 units would be added in the next four years, Chen said.
About 2,000 existing units are to be sublet by the city government, and 15,000 additional units would be established in the next four years, he said.
The “two supports” of the policy are supporting residents by reducing public housing rents by 10 percent, and providing a subsidy of NT$1,500 per month for residents whose household registry is in Taipei, Chen said.
The “three cares” comprise conducting a field survey to reveal unsafe housing units and following up with renovations; helping residents move to appropriate public housing units when necessary; and ensuring that public housing is clean and meets livable standards, Chen said.
Direct assistance would be provided to those who have trouble renting a housing unit by establishing a service for the underprivileged to find housing information and renting assistance, he said.
The policy also aims to increase subsidies for older buildings for elevator installations, and to ease regulations to allow renovations that support mobility for older people, he said.
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