Year 2

Individual Geographical Investigation

‘An evaluation of Housing Strategies’

Name: Kothamasu Pranavasai Bhavesh(16)

Class: MN 203

Due date: 21 Feb 2020 (2359h)

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Contents
Section A: Introduction:.....................................................................................................................................2
Section B: Research Findings:.............................................................................................................................2
Section C: Evaluation of Strategies:....................................................................................................................2
Section D: Conclusion and Reflection:................................................................................................................3
Section E: Sources and References....................................................................................................................4
Annex A: Table of Comparison:..........................................................................................................................5
Annex B: Evaluation Table................................................................................................................................13
Annex C: ATL Skills Table..................................................................................................................................14

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Section A: Introduction:
Recently, I read an article based on the housing challenges faced by New York City’s citizens. This
made me shocked as I wondered how a hot and popular tourist destination like New York City would
be facing a dire housing problem. This led to me choosing New York City as my city as I want to not
only find out why it is facing the situation but also how the government are trying to stop it. [1]

Section B: Research Findings:

In Singapore, as the number of flats start to increase, the population also increases. Currently,
the population size of Singapore is estimated at 5,850,342. [2]To prevent a shortage of housing,
the Singapore government had implemented some strategies. There are BTO (Build-to-Order)
flats (These flats would only commence their construction if number of applicants is at least
70% of the number of flats in the specific building that they are building) [3] and citizens can
use CPF (Central Provident Fund) to buy flats(*only after the evaluation of the current house
you are staying in).[4] Singapore also used the space above and below ground to its advantage.
Most of the rail lines, utilities, warehousing and storage facilities are stored underground, to
increase space for the public. Singapore started high-rise apartments to increase people living
per km2. There are playgrounds and parks merged to the building. There are also supermarkets
at the basement such as ‘FairPrice’ or ‘Sheng-Siong”. [5] This allows lesser space to be used for
such amenities. Singapore also has many types of houses for the citizens based on their needs,
which allows them to live comfortably. Thus, Singapore is able to move forward with ease as
our finance is stable and our basic needs are fulfilled.

In New York City, the estimated population is estimated at 8.5 million [6], while there
is an estimated value of 900,000 residential buildings [7] and still 247, 977 houses are
empty [8]. However, still many people spend their lives at the roads because they are
unable to afford the high rents of the houses and also because the shortage of the
different types of houses. This leads to a higher rate of homelessness.

Section C: Evaluation of Strategies:

Singapore’s strategy of using both space below and above ground to its advantage is very
ingenious. This method gives more space to build more apartments, allowing there to be
enough houses for the Singaporean citizens. Merging most of the amenities also is very

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helpful for the citizens as this allows lesser space to be taken up to build a community. In New
York City, there are many semi-detached houses, which not only take up a lot of space but
also reduces place for other high-rise apartments to be constructed. There are many singular
shopping centres as well, which are only 1 storey high. These shops have the landscape of
higher land usage and lesser height usage, preventing there to be space for houses to be built
for the citizens.

Singapore’s variety of houses for the public allows the citizens to have more options to buy
their houses based on their needs. This ensures that the citizens can live in optimum conditions
as they would live in the house most beneficial to them. There are enough houses for all the
generations, such as enough studio apartments for the elderly and enough 2-room houses for
the newly wed couples. In New York City, there are not sufficient houses for all the generations,
causing the varieties of house to be very costly for them to afford. If New York City had
apartments with all types of houses inside them, surely all the citizens could live in their desired
house without any difficulties.

Singapore has many methods of ensuring a sustainable housing that offers a good quality of life for all.
The key point to achieve this is to ensure that housing is available and affordable for the future
generation. Land is set aside for a variety of housing types to meet different needs and aspirations
of the upcoming cohort of citizens. This ranges from affordable and quality high-rise public housing,
where over 80 per cent of the population lives, to private housing that includes landed properties
and high-rise apartments.

Section D: Conclusion and Reflection:

From this investigation, I learnt that the main reason why many citizens in New York City are unable
to afford a house is due to the fact that their salary is too low to be even able to rent a house. In
fact, owning a house in New York City is actually a great accomplishment! This Geography
Investigation is very helpful for me as I was able to understand how dire situation in New York City
was. I also was able to learn the different skills required for the IB programme, such as the ATL table
and the evaluation table. This investigation was also tough for me as I had a hard time trying to find
sources on the internet and some of them barely made sense. It was only then when I understood
that using a reliable source was a critical thing in writing a report. I wish that I would be given more

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time for the Geography Investigation as I would be able to write a better report with appropriate
content.

Section E: Sources and references

[1] Barker, K. (2018, May 20). Behind New York's Housing Crisis: Weakened Laws and
Fragmented Regulation. Retrieved from
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/05/20/nyregion/affordable-housing-
nyc.html

[2] Singapore Population (LIVE). (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/singapore-population/

[3] Build-To-Order/ Sale of Balance Flats/ Re-Offer of Balance Flats/ Open Booking.
(n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.hdb.gov.sg/cs/infoweb/residential/buying-a-
flat/new/bto-sbf

[4] (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://hdb.gov.sg/cs/infoweb/residential/buying-a-flat/new/cpf-housing-grants-for-
hdb-flats

[5] Underground Space. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www.ura.gov.sg/Corporate/Get-Involved/Plan-Our-Future-SG/Innovative-
Urban-Solutions/Underground-space

[6] New York City Population 2020. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www.usapopulation.org/new-york-city-population/

[7] (2020). Retrieved 20 February 2020, from https://www.quora.com/How-many-

apartment-buildings-are-there-in-NYC-exclude-condo-co-ops

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[8] Etherington, C. (2018, May 8). NYC's Zombie Houses: Why more homes are vacant
and abandoned. Retrieved from https://www.6sqft.com/nycs-zombie-houses-why-
more-homes-are-vacant-and-abandoned/

References:
1) Navarro, M., & Michael. (2014, May 5). De Blasio Sets a 10-Year Plan for Housing,
Putting the Focus on Affordability. Retrieved from
https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/06/nyregion/de-blasio-affordable-housing-
plan.html

2) Uni Assignment Center. (2018, November 1). Housing Supply And Demand In
Singapore 2020 Economics Essay. Retrieved from
https://www.uniassignment.com/essay-samples/economics/housing-supply-and-
demand-in-singapore-2020-economics-essay.php

3) Waters, T. J., & Mironova, O. (n.d.). Housing Policy. Retrieved from

https://www.cssny.org/advocacy-and-research/entry/housing-policy

4) (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.hdb.gov.sg/cs/infoweb/residential/buying-a-

flat/resale/schemes-and-grants/cpf-housing-grants

5) Public Housing – A Singapore Icon. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www.hdb.gov.sg/cs/infoweb/about-us/our-role/public-housing--a-
singapore-icon

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 Annex A: Table of Comparison:
SINGAPORE NEW YORK CITY
ADEQUATENESS  There are currently enough houses for the  There are 900,000 residential
public in Singapore. buildings and 247, 977 houses
 As the population rises, more houses are being are vacant.
built for the community.  There are many homeless
 The population size in Singapore is estimated at people in New York City.
5,850,342, while average household is just 3.24  In November 2019, there were
based on 2018’s results, which is a good result. 63,092 homeless people,
including 14,973 homeless
families with 22,258 homeless
children.

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AFFORDABILITY  The Singapore government has many methods  In New York City, there are only
to help the citizens to be able to afford a house. subsidies for rentals.
 The Government helps those families with low  These programs are not for all
income (lesser than average). the citizens unlike Singapore,
 They reduce the cost of the house for them or where all the subsidies reach
might just pay a certain amount for the house out to all the citizens.
until the low-income citizens can afford it.  Some examples of these
 There are also CPF Housing Grants for citizens subsidies in New York City are as
of up to $80,000. follows:
 Types of CPF grants: Subsidies Information
a. Proximity Housing Grant DRIE Rent Freeze Tenants with
 The Proximity Housing Grant (PHG) Programme disabilities, who
has been introduced to help more *DRIE stands qualify for the
families to buy a resale flat to live for :: Disability NYC’s Rent Freeze
with or close to each other for Rent Increase Program can have
mutual care and support. Exemption their rent frozen
and prevents it
from increasing.
People Criteria Grant amount This does not lower
Extended Houses near 4km a. $30,000 their rent but only
Families to live from their b. $15,000 stops it from
near each other parent’s house increasing.
a. Families Emergency This programme is
b. Singles Rental Assistance targeted towards
Programme people who cannot
b. Single Singaporean Citizen Scheme pay their rent due
 For first-timer single Singapore to some
Citizens (SC) who is 35 years old or unexpected
above. situation or event.
* They can be available for the This programme
Enhanced CPF Housing Grant (EHG)
would pay their
(Singles).
rent for the months

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 that they are
Average Monthly EHG (Singles) Amount missing. Emergency
Household Income assistance is
Not more than $750 $40,000 provided for, but
$751 to $1,000 $37,500 not limited to, the
$1,001 to $1,250 $35,000 following
$1,251 to $1,500 $32,500 situations:
$1,501 to $1,750 $30,000
$1,751 to $2,000 $27,500  Homelessness
$2,001 to $2,250 $25,000
 Dispossession/
$2,251 to $2,500 $22,500
Eviction
$2,501 to $2,750 $20,000
$2,751 to $3,000 $17,500  Utility
$3,001 to $3,250 $15,000 disconnected or
$3,251 to $3,500 $12,500 pending
$3,501 to $3,750 $10,000 termination
$3,751 to $4,000 $7,500
 Fire disaster
$4,001 to $4,250 $5,000
$4,251 to $4,500 $2,500  Domestic
violence
c. Enhanced CPF Housing Grant (Singles)
 Circumstances
$2,500 - $40,000
Amount that affect the
Assistance for Lower to upper-middle health and
income applicants of the safety of the
Singles Grant individual or
family
Applicant must have worked
continuously for the 12
months prior to the flat
application, and still be
Office for People OPWDD has some
working at the point of the
with programs for

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 Developmental individuals with
flat application
Disabilities developmental
 
(OPWDD) disabilities to find a

First-Timer Families and Singles under Joint home that suits

Singles Scheme* their needs. There

is a similar
Grant amount^ ($) SGD programme like
Average Monthly
this called ‘ISS’, also
Household Income
known as Individual
Not more than $1,500 80000
Services and
$1,501 - $2,000 75000
Support, which
$2,001 - $2,500 70000
helps adults with
$2,501 - $3,000 65000
development
$3,001 - $3,500 60000
disabilities, who
$3,501 - $4,000 55000
wish to live
$4,001 - $4,500 50000
independently, to
$4,501 - $5,000 45000
find or rent a house
$5,001 - $5,500 40000
of their choice.
$5,501 - $6,000 35000
Home of Your This program helps
$6,001 - $6,500 30000
Own individuals with
$6,501 - $7,000 25000
developmental
$7,001 - $7,500 20000
disability, their
$7,501 - $8,000 15000
income-eligible
$8,001 - $8,500 10000
families, and Direct
$8,501 - $9,000 5000
Support
More than $9,000 NA
Professionals find a
d. Special Housing Grant & Additional Housing
home of their
Grant
choice.
 Flats applied can only be
Medicaid Waiver This is a program
i. 2-room flexi flat Program that provides help
to those people

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 who need Managed
ii. 3-room house
Long-term Care due

iii. 4-room house to a severe physical

disability or a
 Grant amount from $5,000 to traumatic brain
$40,000 injury in finding a
house in the
SHG Amount
Average Monthly community and the
($)
Household income proper at home

($) services that they

Up to 1,500 40000 need.

1,501 to 2,000 40000 This program

2001 to 2500 40000 provides that

citizen with home
2501 to 3000 40000
care attendant,
3001 to 3500 40000
meals on wheels
3501 to 4000 40000
etc.
4001 to 4500 40000
Family Eviction This is a program to
4501 to 5000 40000
Prevention help prevent
5001 to 5500 35000
Services evictions and help
5501 to 6000 30000
the families, with a
6001 to 6500 25000
household in jail
6501 to 7000 20000
and a child who is
7001 to 7500 15000
lesser than 18 years
7501 to 8000 10000
old, by providing
8001 to 8500 5000
rental support.
Special Exit and SEPS is a subsidy
Prevention that is helps
Supplement individuals and
(SEPS) adult families who
need stable
housing. This

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 subsidy provides
rent assistance for
one year with the
possibility of
renewals. Some
individuals who are
able to sign up for
this subsidy are
those who faced
domestic violence,
who have served in
the military, who
have been evicted
or are staying in a
shelter.
Living in This program is a
Community limited rental
(LINC) assistance program
for low-income
families and single
adults living in
homeless or
domestic violence
shelters. This is a
first-come and first-
serve basis, so
priority will be
given to those
households who
have lived in
shelters the

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 longest.

APPROPRIATENESS  There are enough houses for all the people in  There are a lot of residential
Singapore. apartments in New York City
 There are also different types of houses for  Here is the tabular format on
people to choose from. the types of residential
 Here is tabular format on the types of HDB flats properties and how many of
and how many of each of them are, based on each of them are.
2018’s results. Type of Number of
Type of house Number of houses buildings apartments
1-person 185400 1-unit, 3198486
household detached
2-person 306300 1-unit 379,926
household Attached
3-person 276900 2 units 836,907
household 3 or 4 units 559,886
4-person 284500 5-9 units 407,106
household 10-19 units 327,624
5-person 160700 20 or more 1,755,984
household units
6-person 111600 Mobile Home 207,378
household or Boat, RV, van, 5,980
larger etc.

 There are even more types of houses but here  There are even more types of
are just a few to mention… houses but here are just a few
a. Private apartments/ Condominiums to mention…
b. Landed properties a. Private apartments/
c. Executive condominiums Condominiums
d. 3Gen Flat b. Landed properties

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 e. Shophouses
f. Semi-detached Houses
g. Town House
h. Cluster Home
SUSTAINABILITY  In Singapore, most citizens live in HDB flats.
 There are many subsidies given out by the
government, such as the BTO flats and the
many CPF housing grants, which are very
beneficial to the citizens.
 I think that most of the citizens were able to
buy their dream house only because of these
subsidies.
 These strategies are not only reducing the
number of homeless people living on the
streets but are also improving the lives of the
citizens as they can easily and cheaply improve
their small flat to a bigger one.
 By doing so, they are improving their quality of
life.
 Given that these strategies would continue to
be carried out or improved, I think that in a
matter of years, Singapore would be named the
‘best place to live in’.
c. Shophouses
d. Semi-detached Houses
e. Attached houses
f. Row houses
g. Town House
h. Cluster Home
 In New York City, they are
constantly improving the
housing situation.
 They have started building
different types of apartments so
that the people can live in a
house that caters to their needs.
 They have stopped building their
usual row-houses or the 1-unit,
detached houses and had
recently started building high-
rise apartments.
 If they are able to reduce the
cost of these houses or add
some subsidies to buy
apartments or even increase the
average income rate, the
number of homeless people on
the streets would surely
decrease as they would surely
get a home for themselves.
 These ideas might also improve
the state of living of New York
City’s citizens.
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Annex B: Evaluation Table
a. Singapore’s evaluation table

Name of Strategy What is the What is the Evidence to Remarks

specific issue or specific goal or show
Problem to be objective of the effectiveness of
solved? strategy? strategy
CPF Housing Many people do To ease the Many people Despite receiving
Grants not have enough financial burden choose to use the CPF housing
money to buy of low-income CPF housing grants, you still
their own flat and middle- grants for their need to pay back
either because income housing the money you
they have low households in payment. Some received as grant
income or buying their first people’s after you sell
because their flat. responses are your apartment.
required house is “CPF grants are Given that
too expensive. very helpful. citizens would
They reduce cost not sell their
of house. So why current homes,
not use it? and which they used
“CPF, best CPF housing

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 option! Use it for grants to pay
cheaper houses.” with, the
This shows that strategy is very
people like the effective and
CPF housing efficient.
grants as they
are very helpful.
HDB flats After Singapore To allow citizens Many citizens Citizens could
got separated to have a better opt to live in HDB get an upgrade
from Malaysia, place to live in, flats. In fact, from their
there were still to improve their more than 80% previous houses
many quality of life, of the citizens and these houses
overcrowded and to reduce live in HDB flats are more
slums and the over- as these flats are hygienic and
squatter crowdedness of affordable. These aesthetically
settlements. the places where HDB apartments beautiful to see
These places are the citizens are also have a as well. Thus,
unhygienic, and living. variety of flats, this strategy is
many people which are very ingenious
could easily specially and useful.
contract illnesses designed to the
there due to citizens’ needs.
their poor quality Thus, majority of
of living. the citizens opt
to live in HDB
flats.
Usage of There was little To increase the The underground This strategy is
Underground land for the space for the facilities have very helpful as
building of building of increased the there would be
residential infrastructure space for other lesser space
properties for and houses. recreational taken up by the
citizens to live in activities by a amenities,

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 because most of huge percentage. allowing there to
the space was Many HDB flats be more space
taken up by MRT are also being for housing
(Mass-Rapid- built at these apartments, and
Transit) tracks, areas as more thus more place
playgrounds, houses are for people to live
storage units and required for in.
highways. sustainable
efforts of
Singapore’s
housing
situation.

BTO flats Buyers were The BTO flats Nearly 17,000 The BTO flats
unable to predict allowed the BTO flats have allows buyers to
their flat’s buyers to know been approved, plan according to
completion date when their showing that the place they
and some buyers downpayment many people are are going to live
did not have was expected. satisfied with this in soon, which
means to pay the The buyers also system as BTO allows them to
downpayment had the chance flats are only have a
when their flats to select the approved if there comfortable time
were completed location and are enough when they move
earlier than their desired people signing into their desired
anticipated. type of house up for it. home.
Some buyers
were also
unhappy with
the final location
of their flat
High-rise There was little To increase the Many countries, These buildings

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buildings space for houses population such as India, not only increase
and population density and to have taken the population
was increasing utilise space to inspiration from density, but it
tremendously its maximum Singapore for its also increases
high-rise the aesthetic
apartments, beauty of the
showing that this place as there
strategy is very would be more
effective. room for
designing of
these
apartments.

b. New York City’s evaluation table

Name of What is the What is the Evidence to show Remarks

Strategy specific issue or specific goal or effectiveness of
Problem to be objective of the strategy
solved? strategy?
High-rise There are not To build more These high-rise This strategy is
buildings enough houses affordable buildings are good, however,
for everyone to houses in a targeted to those the main reason
live in limited space so either homeless is that there
as to improve or rental tenants, would be enough
the number of however, other houses for
houses per km2. citizens are everyone.
To ensure that quickly owning However, when
each these houses. these houses are
person/family Even if they are too expensive to
would get a vacant houses, afford, the

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 house each. they are too homeless people
exorbitant to be cannot even
able to afford. afford to rent
Thus, the there. The
number of government
homeless people should take note
in New York City of how much the
had barely homeless people
changed. can afford and
based on that,
they could build
a house. Thus,
this strategy is
not very
efficient.
Subsidies for Many citizens are To reduce Many people are These subsidies
rents struggling to pay financial stress reliant on these are helpful to
their rents due to upon these subsidies. These many citizens.
their citizens and subsidies are Some even rely
developmental allow them to very helpful to on these
disabilities, low- live comfortably. those families subsidies.
income, family who only have However, it
members being one would be better
in jail or their ‘breadwinner’. if these were
disabilities. There are nearly also for buying a
100,000 people house, it would
who had signed be more efficient
up for these as many renting
subsidies. This tenants are
shows that these wishing to buy a
subsidies are house, but they
very helpful, and just do not have

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 most people find enough money
it useful, thus to do so.
these subsidies
are very
effective.
Types of houses Many citizens do To help the [1]There are [1] In New York
not have the citizens get a different City, there are a
house they house which is varieties of variety of
require as their most suitable to house, but the houses, but still
current house them. most required the required
might not be types of houses houses are not
catered to their are studio present. The
needs. apartments. elderly folks in
There are New York City
approximately would rather live
only 10,000 in a studio
available for rent apartment than
and there are a normal 1-unit
nearly 1,002,208 house, because
old folks are the studio
present in New apartment caters
York City. Hence, to their needs
this strategy is more. However,
not very these studio
efficient. apartments are
the ones in
[2] There are also short. It would
a lot of 1-unit be better if the
houses, of up to government
3,198,486 of would actually
them, and these build the houses
apartments take highest in

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up a lot of space. demand first
The land is only than to build all
best used when the types at
the population once. Luckily,
density area of they had planned
that area is the to build around
highest and at its 300,000 studio
optimum. Since apartments
these 1-unit recently.
houses have very
little population [2] It would be
density, these better if the
lands are used government
very would tear down
ineffectively. these 1-unit
apartments so
that there would
be more space
for the
government to
build 20-units or
more
apartments for
the citizens.
These 1-unit flats
are very
inefficient and
removing them is
the best idea.

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Annex C: ATL Skills Table
ATL SKILLS SPECIFIC SKILLS WHAT I CARRIED OUT
RESEARCH 1) Collecting Data 1) I used data from
2) Organising Data renowned websites
and cross-checked
them using different
websites.
2) I presented my data
clearly in my essay and
indicating each country
by each paragraph.
SELF MANAGEMENT SKILLS 1) Time Management I made a timetable for 2
weeks and made sure I
followed it.
THINKING SKILLS 1) Evaluation 1) I evaluated the data I
2) Analysis gathered and wrote
the
essay required. I also
used evaluation to
make strategies on the
topic.
2) I analysed the
information and made

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sure they sounded
realistic but not fake
news.

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