The Housing and Development Board (HDB), a statutory
board of the Ministry of National Development, plans and develops affordable,
quality public housing and related facilities. It was set up in February 1960
to take over the work of the Singapore Improvement Trust set up by the British
Colonial Government from 1927 to 1959. Today,
about 85 percent of Singaporeans live in HDB flats compared with only nine
percent in 1960 when HDB was first established.
The government supports the public housing programme by
providing financial assistance for the funding of housing development and
other activities. Assistance is in the form of loans such as the housing
development loan that covers development programmes and operations, and
government grants.
Legislative support comes in the form of the Land
Acquisition Act set up in 1967 to compulsorily acquire private land for public
housing or other development programmes. Together with sensitive resettlement
policies, this Act enabled HDB to clear squatters and slum areas smoothly and
in their place, build new and comfortable HDB flats.
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HDB's Role in
Nation Building
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Creating a Stake in the Country for
Singapore Citizens
In 1964, the government introduced the Home Ownership For the People Scheme to give citizens an asset in the country, a means of financial security and to hedge against inflation as it protects against rising rents. This push for home ownership also helped in the overall economic, social and political stability of the country.
Four years later, the Central Provident Fund was used to aid housing payments, and the income ceiling continued to be reviewed frequently to ensure that most Singaporeans would be able to enjoy the benefits of public housing.
Community Builder
To ensure a balanced racial mix within HDB estates and foster greater racial harmony, the ethnic integration policy was introduced in March 1989. Till today, HDB continues with its community builder role by working with other government ministries to provide social facilities such as community centres and neighbourhood parks. Towns are planned with precinct spaces such as amphitheatres and pavilions to give residents more opportunities to interact with one another for a more cohesive community.
Planning Comprehensive New Towns
HDB has always planned and built comprehensive town structures even back in the 1960s when it faced great pressure to deliver large numbers of flats. For instance, Toa Payoh built in 1965 has a town centre, children's playgrounds, a swimming pool, shops, markets, cinemas, a library and even light industries to provide employment for residents. Transportation and commercial facilities are also linked up to serve residents.
Eventually, HDB received recognition of its building efforts when it won the World Habitat Award in 1991 for the planning and development of Tampines Town. With this award, HDB earned an international standing as an innovative and successful housing developer.
Managing Estates
HDB has 22 branch offices strategically located in each town to take care of lease and tenancy matters for all its residential, commercial and industrial properties. With this decentralised system, residents' needs can be met on the ground quickly. Estate management functions such as routine and cyclical maintenance and repair work were placed in the charge of the town councils after 1989.
