{"id":1131,"date":"2024-03-17T07:29:34","date_gmt":"2024-03-16T23:29:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rakancommunity.com\/web\/?p=1131"},"modified":"2024-03-18T07:32:50","modified_gmt":"2024-03-17T23:32:50","slug":"right-to-adequate-housing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rakancommunity.com\/web\/right-to-adequate-housing\/","title":{"rendered":"Right to Adequate Housing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Adequate housing is a universal right<\/a>, recognised across numerous international human rights treaties such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More than just physical spaces made available for people to take shelter, it is essentially the right for people to live somewhere in \u201cpeace, security and dignity\u201d, according to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) of the United Nations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For housing to be adequate, it posits, there are several elements that must be met, including accessibility, habitability and affordability (Table 1).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, the financialisation of housing<\/a> \u2013 which happens when housing is being constructed and valued as a commodity rather than a need \u2013 over the past decades has made homes less affordable to those who are grappling with the rising cost of living.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In some parts of the world, the phenomenon has even caused evictions or displacements of residents of neighbourhoods located in \u2018prime areas\u2019 to make way for speculative real estate investments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Governments, therefore, are urged<\/a> to ensure that their housing strategies are designed to ensure that adequate housing remains a human right.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
The right to adequate housing – the right for people to live somewhere in \u201cpeace, security and dignity\u201d – is recognised by numerous international human rights treaties. Photo by Deva Darshan on Unsplash<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

In Malaysia, where 76.9 per cent of its people own a home (as of June 2023<\/a>), more affordable houses are being built for those from low- to middle-income households. Until the end of 2022, 108,373 of these units have been constructed across the country, on its way to meet the 500,000 target by the end of the 12th<\/sup> Malaysia Plan<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since the 2020 National Budget, Malaysia has also introduced the Rent-to-Own scheme (RTO)<\/a> to provide potential homebuyers the option of renting a property for a certain period of time before deciding to purchase it (or not). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other recent national housing initiatives include the development of an inclusive housing pilot project in major cities to meet the needs of diverse target groups, as well as the exploration of potentially establishing inclusive retirement villages in preparation for the impact of an ageing country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enhancing Home Ownership and Affordability in Sarawak<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Enhancing Home Ownership and Affordability\u2019 is one of the key measures of the 11th<\/sup> strategic thrust \u2013 \u2018Combating Poverty and Enhancing People\u2019s Well-being\u2019 \u2013 under the 2024 State Budget<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Interview with applicants of Rumah Spektra Permata (RSP) Skim Pembesaran Kampung Baru Spaoh, Betong organised by Housing Development Corporation on 30 November and 1 December 2023. Photo from Mutiara Mortgage & Credit Facebook page<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The strategic thrust aims to alleviate poverty through improvements in household income and quality of life, specifically \u201ccatalytic initiatives\u201d implemented by various ministries and agencies designed to uplift the socio-economic level of Sarawakians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The aforementioned measure, which goes hand-in-hand with efforts to provide affordable housing, strives to enable low-income households to have their own home through financial assistances and housing schemes carried out by the Sarawak Government, namely:<\/p>\n\n\n\n