星期二 [ 2010-7-20 1:00:24 | watches1013 ]   The affordability challenge HOUSING is as one of the rights of every Malaysian and it must be of a standard "adequate" for the person's health and the wellbeing of family members. Article 25(1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states, "Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and wellbeing of himself and his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control." Article 11(1) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social & Cultural Rights 1966 states, "The States Parties to the present Covenant recognise the right of everyone to an adequate standard of living for himself and his family, including adequate food, clothing and housing, and to the continuous improvement of living conditions." According to an online definition, adequate housing is that which "conforms to basic standards with regard to security of tenure, availability of services, materials, facilities and infrastructure, affordability, habitability, accessibility, location, and cultural adequacy". Thus, while "adequate" has many dimensions, including aspects of accessibility and cultural adequacy, never forget the fundamental characteristic of "affordability". If one accepts that housing is a "right", then it is the government's "duty" to ensure citizens enjoy that right. Replica Breguet Watches How is our record in ensuring that Malaysians can afford to acquire the sort of housing they need? The answer hit me as I reflected on two separate events. The first was a lawyer friend in Kuala Lumpur thinking of buying a four-room link house in Shah Alam, Selangor, which the vendor asked for almost RM500,000, which I am certain he can afford. "Affordable housing" is defined as "housing for which the associated financial costs are at a level that does not threaten other basic needs and represents a reasonable proportion of an individual's overall income". Assuming my friend is taking a 20-year housing loan, his monthly repayment would be around RM2,300 which he can cope. The second event was about a family ejected from its rented home in Alor Star, Kedah. The odd-job worker, who has to support his wife and five children and who is in his late 30s (about the age as my lawyer friend), told a broadcast journalist they sought shelter in an abandoned shop as he could not afford the rent. To him, "adequate housing" means the kind of premises that fulfills the needs of his large and growing family while "affordable housing" is affordable rented housing. In the United Kingdom, its affordable housing programme includes: Social rented housing (rented housing owned by local authorities and registered social landlords), intermediate housing (housing for sale or rent) at prices or rents above those of Gucci 8505 Series Womens Watch 28545 social rent but below market prices or market rents, and lowcost home ownership (housing for sale at less than market value upon first sale). According to the world view on state responsibility in social housing, the three basic principles are: Housing costs should be proportionate to overall income levels, the state should establish subsidies for those unable to acquire affordable housing, and the state should p Wow gold!: Wow gold Wow gold 浏览(61) | 回复(0) |