During his visit to a public housing project site for young adults in Hualien County today, Premier Chang San-cheng said he hopes the site will be a place where young Taiwanese can have their own homes and settle down for life.
After urban planning procedures are completed, groundbreaking on the site could take place sometime this year. The Executive Yuan is optimistic that the homes can be completed quickly, Chang said.
Located in Xincheng Township, the housing project site lies near Hualien City and offers a quality residential environment befitting young adults. The premier urged the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) to follow Hualien's example when implementing housing projects in other parts of the nation.
The Hualien project allows qualified residents of the county to purchase homes on preferential terms, the MOI explained. The county expects to build 600 units over the next two-and-a-half years. To prevent real estate speculation, regulations have been established to prohibit homeowners from selling their units within 10 years of purchase. Hualien County also reserves the right to repurchase the homes at the original sale prices.
Social housing is an important effort for the central government right now, MOI added. In 2011 and 2014, the Executive Yuan approved short- and medium/long-term initiatives aimed at helping disadvantaged groups and young adults with home purchases or rentals. Under these initiatives, the central government provides subsidies to local governments while some locales use their own financial resources. Approximately 34,000 homes are expected to be completed by the year 2023.
Following the housing project, Premier Chang today toured the site for a planned "smart technology library," also in Hualien County. Aside from exhibiting intelligent technologies of the future, the library can work with schools on educational programs, stimulate young people's imagination and creativity, and narrow the gap between urban and rural regions.
The Ministry of Education said it has provided the Hualien County Cultural Affairs Bureau Library and 13 local libraries grants totaling NT$69.13 million (US$2.1 million) since 2009. The funds are being used to improve facilities and reading environments and to establish an eastern Taiwan regional resource center in Hualien County. The center will offer Hualien residents better reading environments and resources while serving neighboring Yilan and Taitung counties as well.