Singapore makes efforts to upgrade social housing

Singaporean Minister of National Development Desmond Lee said on February 17 that 29,000 flats built in 1997 or earlier have been chosen for the Housing Board’s Home Improvement Programme (HIP) and will get structural improvements and upgrades to bathrooms and entrances, among other things.

The Singaporean Government is ramping up budget allocations to upgrade social housing and improve the quality of life for its citizens, according to the Ministry for National Development.

Minister Desmond Lee said on February 17 that 29,000 flats built in 1997 or earlier have been chosen for the Housing Board’s Home Improvement Programme (HIP) and will get structural improvements and upgrades to bathrooms and entrances, among other things.

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Photo: Business Insider

The 371 blocks chosen for upgrades are located in estates that include Choa Chu Kang, Pasir Ris, Tampines and Jurong West, and the Government has allocated more than 407 million SGD (304 million USD) for the works.

Lee said that, since the launch of the HIP, 494,000 flats, or 9 in 10 eligible flats, have been selected for the programme, including the latest batch. Of these, close to 381,000 flats have been upgraded.

The HIP was launched in 2007 to spruce up older housing estates. As of March 31, 2024, about 4 billion SGD had been spent on the programme./.

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