Housing a basic right, says NPC
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Shi said some economically affordable housing projects lack basic facilities such as water or power supply, which makes it difficult for residents to move in. Some other projects are placed in city suburbs that are short of education, medical and traffic resources.
In early October, the quality of affordable houses sparked public concern as the first demolition of government-subsidized apartments took place in Beijing.
Six of the nine buildings in a project under construction for low-income housing were ordered to be demolished due to substandard concrete and two other buildings needed reinforcement, the Beijing Municipal Commission of Housing and Urban-Rural Development said.
In face of so many problems, Shi said legislators suggest more subsidies should be directly given to low-income citizens to rent apartments, and a financial system that coordinates central and local government spending should be set up.
Chen Sixi, deputy chief of the Internal and Judicial Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress, said the legislation process of a draft law on affordable housing should be quickened, too.
The draft law, though on this year's legislation agenda, has been put off to next year, he said.
"The draft law should specify the proportion of different types of housing, from luxury houses to economically affordable ones, so that local governments can better supply government-subsidized housing for the underprivileged and also work on local economic developments," Chen said.
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