The Rudiments of Affordable Housing in China

Abstract

A housing supply project named the National Comfortable Housing Project was carried out by the Chinese government from 1995 to 1998 as a very important instrument in advancing urban housing reform. Through this project the Chinese government invested over 220 billion RMB and provided over 260 million square metres of floor area to households. In Beijing city, about 52,000 households, which had a floor area per capita of less than 4 square metres had their living standard improved. On the basis of a careful review of the National Comfortable Housing Project performance, we conclude that China′s current affordable housing supply system is mainly built upon the successful implementation of the Project in the 1990s.