New housing policies welcome, but more needed

Beijing has introduced a series of new policies for public rental housing, such as granting those with improved economic conditions three years grace to avoid high rents dragging them back into poverty. These are good moves but there is more to be done, says an editorial in Beijing News. Excerpts:

As part of social welfare, public rental housing is open to the low-income group only, with a clear and strict requirement on the income of applicants. However, that causes a dilemma, also, as many families have to quit the housing when their economic conditions improve, then, burdened by high market rents, they become poor again.

That's why the new policy in Beijing, which grants these "turning better" families three years' extension, is welcome. The move will allow families who are struggling on the road toward prosperity a buffer period to accumulate some basic wealth and avoid falling into the vicious cycle of poverty under high rents again.

A deeper analysis will find the move has raised the standards of housing subsidies to the poor, but the group needs more help to improve housing conditions. Generally, the biggest problem nationwide is that only a few families can get public rental housing or other kinds of housing subsidy while a much larger number needs them. Many people in need are denied housing subsidies because the required income standard is too low, while many others are troubled by the complicate paperwork; on the other hand, some public rental houses are left empty, thus wasting resources.

Therefore, to effectively improve housing conditions for the poor, it is necessary for local governments to simplify paperwork procedures and lift income requirements according to local conditions, so more people can get their urgently needed help from the government in housing.