Singapore's public housing agency - Housing and Development Board (HDB) - has been given the United Nations Public Service Award.
HDB said the award is in recognition of the Home Ownership Programme, which has successfully provided over 80 per cent of Singaporeans with affordable quality flats, of them 95 per cent own these homes. Describing it as a significant milestone in its history, HDB said the award represents the international community's recognition of Singapore's public housing programme.
National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan visited the HDB headquarters at Toa Payoh on Tuesday to congratulate the management and staff on this achievement.
In his speech, Mr Mah spoke on the dual challenges of providing for more vulnerable groups such as the elderly and the lower-income, as well as making HDB flats attractive to more well-off Singaporeans.
He also felt that a shared experience of HDB living was important to developing a collective Singapore identity.
HDB's "Remaking Our Heartland" programme is set to give new, middle-aged and old HDB estates a major makeover, to turn them into "vibrant homes."
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