In fact, the gap between people in need of social housing and the number of apartments that can be put on the market is very far apart. In April 2023, the Prime Minister approved the Project "Investing in the construction of at least 1 million social housing apartments for low-income people and industrial park workers in the period of 2021 - 2030". The project aims to develop social housing and workers' housing at prices suitable for the affordability of middle-income and low-income households in urban areas and workers and laborers in industrial parks and export processing zones.
However, according to the report, only 66,755 apartments nationwide have been completed out of a total of more than 1 million apartments in the project, equivalent to 6.2%. There are many reasons for this project's slow progress, but the most prominent is the lack of policy mechanisms and cumbersome procedures that make localities hesitant and investors not interested in social housing projects.
Also on February 27, the Prime Minister specified the requirements for social housing by announcing Decision 444/QD-TTg, assigning the target number of apartments in localities that must be completed in the 2025 - 2030 period to 995,445 apartments. This decision also puts a high responsibility on the Government, localities, and businesses in meeting housing requirements, including the issue of housing for workers and laborers.
Regarding policies, the Prime Minister emphasized that there must be solutions to promote social housing: "We have everything in our hands, we have land, mechanisms, policies... but we cannot turn the situation around, so we rely on who, if we don't do it, who will do it".
The State must pioneer and create for businesses to implement, creating breakthroughs in social housing. Social housing must be prioritized first before commercial housing. The Prime Minister shared the development of social housing for young people, disadvantaged people, low-income people, and workers in a very sincere speech: "Comrades, just imagine what life would be like when you go from your hometown to the province, then put yourself in the position of those people like yourself before to solve the problem".
In the next 5 years, the number of apartments to be completed nationwide will be nearly 1 million. This is a huge number. However, if management agencies, local leaders and businesses put themselves in the position of people who crave a home at a moderate price, the social housing goal - a humane goal, demonstrating the superiority of the regime - will soon be completed.
