Unit 10.2 Unit 10.2 Housing the people in Housing the people in SingaporeSingapore

Problems of Housing the Problems of Housing the PeoplePeople• Before PAP took over, people were living in Before PAP took over, people were living in

overcrowded and poor living conditions.overcrowded and poor living conditions.• 1927 Spore Improvement Trust (SIT) was 1927 Spore Improvement Trust (SIT) was

set up but only 2100 flats built in 14 yrs.set up but only 2100 flats built in 14 yrs.• During the war, many houses were During the war, many houses were

destroyed by bombs. This led to greater destroyed by bombs. This led to greater shortage in housing.shortage in housing.

• 1950 Population stood at 1022 000 but only 1950 Population stood at 1022 000 but only 21 000 flats were built betw 1947 and 1959.21 000 flats were built betw 1947 and 1959.

• By 1959 half million Singaporeans were By 1959 half million Singaporeans were living in slams and squatters.living in slams and squatters.

Steps to provide HousingSteps to provide Housing

• Housing Development Board (HDB) set up in 1960 Housing Development Board (HDB) set up in 1960 to replace SIT.to replace SIT.

• It sought to provide affordableIt sought to provide affordablehousing for lower-income group.housing for lower-income group.

• Water, gas and electricity was provided within Water, gas and electricity was provided within each flat.each flat.

• 1-room and 2-room flats were built in 1-room and 2-room flats were built in Queenstown, Bt Ho Swee, Kallang and Tanjong Queenstown, Bt Ho Swee, Kallang and Tanjong Rhu.Rhu.

• Facilities like schools, markets and clinics were Facilities like schools, markets and clinics were provided in the estates as well.provided in the estates as well.

• Flats were subsidised by the government to make Flats were subsidised by the government to make it more affordable.it more affordable.

Milestones of HDBMilestones of HDB

• By 1965 it built 53 777 flats for Singaporeans.By 1965 it built 53 777 flats for Singaporeans.• In 1964 Home Ownership scheme was In 1964 Home Ownership scheme was

introduced to make it easier for lower-income introduced to make it easier for lower-income group to buy their own flats.group to buy their own flats.

• 1968 Central Provident Fund (CPF) could be 1968 Central Provident Fund (CPF) could be used in purchasing HDB flats.used in purchasing HDB flats.

• By 1970 HDB built 110 000 flats. More then 1/3 By 1970 HDB built 110 000 flats. More then 1/3 of Singaporeans stayed in flats then.of Singaporeans stayed in flats then.

Milestones of HDB IIMilestones of HDB II

• Facilities like playground and car parks Facilities like playground and car parks were added to HDB flats and estates.were added to HDB flats and estates.

• Design, planning and architecture were Design, planning and architecture were improved.improved.

• 1974 The Housing and Urban 1974 The Housing and Urban Development Co. P/L (HUDC) was set up to Development Co. P/L (HUDC) was set up to build flats that were comparable to private build flats that were comparable to private property but cheaper in price.property but cheaper in price.

• 1970s more 3 and 4-rooms flats were built.1970s more 3 and 4-rooms flats were built.

Initial Problems faced by Initial Problems faced by HDBHDB• Shortage of land.Shortage of land.• Ensure low cost so people can afford to buy the flats.Ensure low cost so people can afford to buy the flats.• People living in slams were unwilling to move out.People living in slams were unwilling to move out.• May 1961 Bt Ho Swee Fire left 16 000 people May 1961 Bt Ho Swee Fire left 16 000 people

homeless, 54 people injured and two dead. $1 million homeless, 54 people injured and two dead. $1 million worth of property was damaged.worth of property was damaged.– There was need to relocate the casualties. There was need to relocate the casualties. – They were moved to Queenstown and St Michael.They were moved to Queenstown and St Michael.– Feb 1962, 5 blocks were built on the site of the fire. Feb 1962, 5 blocks were built on the site of the fire. – Many families moved back to Bt Ho Swee.Many families moved back to Bt Ho Swee.

Bt Ho Swee FireBt Ho Swee Fire

Achievements of HDBAchievements of HDB

• By 1975, almost 47% of total population in Singapore By 1975, almost 47% of total population in Singapore were living in flats.were living in flats.

• 1980s 75% were housed in HDB flats.1980s 75% were housed in HDB flats.• By 1998 86% of Singaporeans stayed in HDB flats, out By 1998 86% of Singaporeans stayed in HDB flats, out

of which 90% own their flats.of which 90% own their flats.• Today HDB estates have modern amenities like Today HDB estates have modern amenities like

Polyclinics, parks, shopping centres and sports Polyclinics, parks, shopping centres and sports complexes.complexes.

• Singapore’s skyline is dotted with skyscrapers.Singapore’s skyline is dotted with skyscrapers.• 68% of 7400 household felt that HDB housing 68% of 7400 household felt that HDB housing

programme has improved their lives.programme has improved their lives.• The building of public flats saw more people moving The building of public flats saw more people moving

to the rural areas in Singapore, thus a more even to the rural areas in Singapore, thus a more even spread of the population. spread of the population.

Transportation systemsTransportation systems

• Necessary to provide good transportation Necessary to provide good transportation system to link the housing estates to the city system to link the housing estates to the city area.area.

• Roads were built outside the city. Roads were built outside the city. Expressways were built in 1970s to make Expressways were built in 1970s to make traveling easier.traveling easier.

• MRT was introduced in 1980s to make it more MRT was introduced in 1980s to make it more convenient to travel.convenient to travel.

• 1990s LRT was built to further improve the 1990s LRT was built to further improve the transportation system.transportation system.

Why was HDB successful?Why was HDB successful?

•Support from the government, Support from the government, which set aside large amount of which set aside large amount of funds to build flats.funds to build flats.

•Legal power t resettle the squatters.Legal power t resettle the squatters.

•Chairman of HDB, Lim Kim San and Chairman of HDB, Lim Kim San and his staff were dedicated and worked his staff were dedicated and worked hard to achieve the goals of HDB.hard to achieve the goals of HDB.

Nation Building by HDBNation Building by HDB

• When people were allowed to buy their own When people were allowed to buy their own flats, they became more loyal to Singapore.flats, they became more loyal to Singapore.– They have a stake to protect Singapore They have a stake to protect Singapore

when they owned the flats they live in.when they owned the flats they live in.

• Different races, same blockDifferent races, same block– People of different races get to interact and People of different races get to interact and

understand each other better. This built up understand each other better. This built up an atmosphere of racial tolerance and an atmosphere of racial tolerance and harmony among Singaporeans.harmony among Singaporeans.

Nation Building by HDB IINation Building by HDB II

• Setting up of Community Centres, Setting up of Community Centres, clubs and Residents Committees clubs and Residents Committees promote interaction among people of promote interaction among people of different races.different races.– First CC was built in 1960.First CC was built in 1960.– First RC was set up in 1978.First RC was set up in 1978.– Provided friendly relations and better Provided friendly relations and better

understanding of government’s policies.understanding of government’s policies.

Future ChallengesFuture Challenges

• To provide environment of high To provide environment of high standard.standard.

• To achieve better quality and building To achieve better quality and building design to meet a more sophisticated design to meet a more sophisticated crowd.crowd.

• Government has to encourage and Government has to encourage and strengthen sense of belonging and strengthen sense of belonging and community spirit among Singaporeans.community spirit among Singaporeans.