“Housing is a basic human right and one of the basic requirements for an honorable life,” according to Dr. Saleh Al-Khathlan, deputy chairman of the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR). The official stressed that “a large number of citizens cannot afford to buy a home due to the increase in real estate prices,” and urged that “housing allowances should be paid to citizens who do not satisfy the criteria for owning a house set by the Ministry of Housing”. The housing problem has been left unsolved for a long time. It represents a national challenge that will be difficult to address due to the speed at which the Kingdom's population is growing. Expanding public services to meet the demands of the growing population will continue to be a major challenge that will require more attention. According to recent statistics only 30 percent of Saudis own homes. Immediate measures must be implemented to provide all Saudis with the opportunity to live a live of dignity and honor. The government has announced plans for massive housing projects at a cost of over SR300 billion and aggressive development projects have been initiated all over the country. Many international companies and property developers have been encouraged to invest in the Saudi construction sector. Meanwhile, the General Organization for Pensions has given approval for the implementation of housing projects in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam. Despite these concerted efforts, senior officials warn that further programming, management and coordination are needed to prevent problems from arising. Indeed, it is crucial at this stage to apply international standards and to ensure respect for laws and regulations so that these plans are implemented efficiently and in due time. The enormity of the problem and the continued public discontent makes it unforgivable to allow the dreams of Saudi citizens to be shattered by the poor standards and reckless planning of inefficient workers and incompetent managers who waste valuable government resources. The government should enforce laws and regulations to implement proper urban planning, and proper infrastructure should be established before the construction of housing begins. Public utilities should be available and running efficiently to avoid the chaos that existed in the past. The proper distribution of residential and commercial areas should be planned to respect the privacy and comfort of residents. There is a need for close cooperation between the municipality, the public or housing developers, and the construction companies involved. There should also be a well thought out symmetry in the architecture and landscape design and the color scheme that reflects our culture. The whole world is going green. We need to consider building houses that are environmentally friendly. Sustainable housing has been discouraged because of the public perception that it is expensive, and people are unaware of the long term financial benefits, mainly reducing the cost of water and electricity that is a burden for all at the end of every month. Housing specialists today offer new concepts of sustainable development. Local governance should study these concepts and involve citizens in the process of planning sustainable programs that can address the environmental challenges of extreme heat and the scarcity of water. Potential methods that can be applied to implement sustainable housing include: site design, passive solar design, natural light and ventilation. The lack of proper building codes and the unplanned distribution of residential areas have been a source of public discontent. Many family residential areas have turned into commercial centers creating security risks and depriving citizens of comfort and privacy. High rises, shopping malls, schools and mosques should have their own parking spaces and should be strategically located so as not to disturb the harmony of the neighborhood. The interests of citizens should be kept in mind before the implementation of any public service. Plans need to be applied according to updated research to help us avoid previous mistakes, and government departments must learn from the experience of more developed nations. Global standards must not be compromised if officials are really serious about serving public interests. The National Human Rights Society stated that it pays special attention to the rights of citizens to own their own homes and the Ministry of Housing has allocated a large budget for housing projects. The public is now waiting in anticipation for the final outcome. Let us hope that government officials can expedite housing projects to meet the demands of citizens. — Samar Fatany is a radio broadcaster and writer. She can be reached at [email protected]
