Wu Guangqiang

    AS a key measure to ensure access to housing for mid-and-low-income households, the Central Government committed in its latest Five-year Program to building 36 million units of what it calls public housing — including affordable and low-rent housing — by the end of 2015.

    However, like many other well-meaning projects that did not succeed because of lousy implementation and lax supervision, cracks are starting to appear in China’s drive to build low-income housing. As a rule, whenever there is a rush to meet government targets, shoddy construction, usually accompanied by corruption and cutting-corners, is common.

    When over 200 families in July this year moved into their new homes at an affordable housing development in Taihu County, Anqing City, Anhui Province, their excitement quickly turned to disappointment. This estate — said to be the largest of its kind in the county — is considered a “paper house.” In addition to such problems as cracking facades, leakages and foundation subsidence, the structures were virtually erected on the floorslabs that are as flimsy as crackers. Without much effort, one can break with one’s hands a block of concrete off a floorslab or a wall and crumble it. In one of the households, reporters found an opening in the floor large enough for a person to fall through.

    Many owners have spent their life savings on these homes. Such jerry-built projects have also been found in Beijing, Hebei and Hangzhou. In fact, to many, affordable housing is associated with poor quality.

    This is the corollary of a policy that has favored real estate developers in the past years. China is one of a few countries that have left the housing provision at the mercy of avaricious developers without taking care of the demands of low-income people. Until the unveiling of the ambitious affordable housing program early this year, home buyers had only two choices: buy a unit from private developers at exorbitant prices or do without one.

    By comparison, about 85 percent of Singaporeans live in public housing developments. Unlike most Chinese affordable homes that are located in remote areas and poorly equipped with supporting facilities, Singaporean public apartments are located in self-contained towns with schools, supermarkets, clinics, as well as sports and recreational facilities.

    It is, after all, the policymakers’ attitude toward the public need for affordable housing that determines that of officials at local levels and contractors undertaking the construction. For officials and developers who have been accustomed to gaining huge profits from private housing developments, building affordable housing is an extra burden of little value.

    Apathy leads to loose regulation and perfunctory punishment for violators, which in turn encourages contractors to wantonly cut corners. It is a vicious cycle.

    Therefore, unless policymakers and housing authorities place a premium on the construction of affordable housing, it is hard to imagine a fundamental turn for the better.

    Poor quality is not the only problem concerning affordable housing. The application and approval process is also faulty and highly controversial. Cheating is common during this process.

    Now that the Central Government is carrying out such a massive construction program, its success calls for comprehensive measures. Legislation is a top priority. Currently there is only an official circular to govern the matter. Like many Chinese official documents, this one is also too vague and general to be effective.

    We need a good rule book, but we also need a good body and good people to do their work by the book. It is time we abandon empty rhetoric.

    (The author is an English tutor and a freelance writer. He can be reached at jw368@163.com.)