The dream of stable housing no longer distant

(ĐN) - On December 19, among the nine projects and works that were simultaneously commenced, inaugurated, or technically opened to traffic by Dong Nai Province in celebration of the 14th National Party Congress, there were three social housing projects were also launched in several localities near industrial zones. These projects will provide more than 3,600 apartments for low-income earners. Once completed, these social housing units will offer thousands of low-income workers and their families stable accommodation, enabling them to settle down and build their livelihoods.

In 2025, Dong Nai is expected to complete more than 4,600 social housing units, achieving 110% of its planned target, an especially meaningful result for a rapidly developing industrial province with a large migrant workforce. This achievement vividly demonstrates the province’s determination to implement the major policies of the Party and the State, linking socio-economic development with improvements in people’s living standards, particularly for workers and laborers.

In Dong Nai, eligibility for purchasing or renting social housing has been expanded. In addition to priority groups such as people with meritorious service to the nation, low-income earners, workers, civil servants, public employees, and laborers working in industrial zones, the policy now includes individuals affected by administrative unit rearrangements who own housing but live more than 20 kilometers from their workplaces; individuals whose homes are demolished or cleared for site clearance to implement public investment projects, key or urgent projects; and cases where land is recovered by the State requiring relocation but where households are not eligible for resettlement. This flexible and humane new policy of Dong Nai aims to address housing needs for officials and civil servants so they can work with peace of mind, meet housing demands for households fully displaced yet ineligible for resettlement, contributing to accelerating the implementation of key and urgent projects, and promoting socio-economic development.

To realize the goal of developing 65,000 social housing units during the 2025–2030 period and bring the “dream of stable housing” closer to workers and laborers, Dong Nai needs to implement comprehensive and decisive solutions that are fundamental and practical.

First and foremost, completing planning and preparing clean land reserves is a prerequisite. The province needs to prioritize land allocation for social housing development in connection with industrial zones, export processing zones, transportation systems, and essential social infrastructure, ensuring that workers can “live near their workplaces and sustain their lives on their wages.”

Second, there’s a need to accelerate administrative procedure reforms and remove bottlenecks for enterprises participating in this sector. Shortening project approval timelines, ensuring transparency in investment procedures, and promptly resolving difficulties related to land, investment, and construction will help create strong incentives to attract businesses. Simultaneously, preferential mechanisms regarding credit, taxes, and interest rates are needed to encourage businesses to make long-term and sustainable investment.

Third, policies must reach the right beneficiaries. A synchronized database of workers and laborers needs to be built; criteria for approval should be made public and transparent; and supervision and prevention of policy abuse should be strengthened.

Finally, the involvement of the entire political system, coupled with propaganda and raising social awareness, is crucial. When social housing is regarded as a task of sustainable development, not merely a social welfare policy but also a driving force for stabilizing the labor force, Dong Nai will gradually realize the major goals set out in the Resolution of the 11th Provincial Party Congress for the 2025–2030 term, ensuring that stable housing is no longer a distant dream for workers and employees.

By Dang Ngoc - Translated by Thien Kim, Thu Ha