Al-Jazirah FOR years citizens have waited for a solution to the housing crisis. The list of people waiting for housing is growing longer and the ministry that was dedicated to solve the housing problem is running in an empty circle. First it was its budget that was an issue until the ministry received around SR250 billion. Then it started complaining about land scarcity so all plots of land owned by municipalities were handed over to the ministry, but with little effect. Citizens who met the requirements needed to receive housing were given estimated dates on which they would receive housing but years have passed and we have gotten nowhere. As a citizen, I feel confused. Why is it that we haven't been able to solve the housing problem despite the empty swathes of land and huge budgets we have? What makes this issue so complicated? Why are citizens in the high income bracket being granted accelerated loans while those with low incomes are being ignored even though they make up the majority seeking housing? Retirees who served the country for 30 or 40 years have been left to fend for themselves without having a ceiling that protects their children from the heat of the sun and spiraling rent prices. Despite the abundant land we have and the ability to develop these spaces, there seems to be a real defect in our approach. Perhaps taxing unused land is a viable solution, but it is definitely not the final solution. Land owners will either sell or trade among themselves to escape taxation or develop the land, which is what the country desires to increase supply. But those owners who waste – in their view point – around 40 percent of their land for services such as streets, parks, mosques, schools, medical clinics simply transfer these costs to be paid by citizens who need a small piece of land. As a result, prices inflate even if demand falls because these real estate brokers are in no hurry to sell. The people and bodies that are in charge of planning must realize that all attempts to increase supply end up benefiting those who have a steady income as they are the only ones capable of getting bank loans. As for elderly employees, or those who are unemployed, they are left in the dark. To be fair to citizens from low income backgrounds, including the unemployed, widows, divorcees and orphans, the country must adopt the idea of building special suburbs in cities Kingdomwide. Thousands of units must be completed within three years near major cities and public transportation must be offered in these areas so residents can have easy access to the city.
