AFFORDABLE

HOUSING

I R A A . H O G G

S O W K 3 2 2
HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT(HUD):
SECTION 8
VS.
M A L AY S IA N G O V E R N M E N T
HOUSING&ASSISTANCE
 SEVERITY OF
PROBLEM
( H O W M A N Y P E O P L E
A F F E C T E D , H O W A R E
T H E Y A F F E C T E D )

• In HUD’s 2022 Annual Homeless • According to the National Property

Assessment Report (AHAR), it was
found that 582,462 people were
experiencing homelessness on a
single night in January 2022.
• Affordable housing is scarce in a
housing market dominated by
private builders and developers
Information Centre (NAPIC) in
Malaysia, 30,664 units of new
residential property went unsold in
2019, 32.4% was affordable housing.
• This indicates Low-income families
are not able to afford the “affordable
housing”
HUD’s 2022-2026 Strategic Plan POLICY
•Strategic Goal 1: Support
Underserved Communities
GOALS
•Strategic Goal 2: Ensure Access
to and Increase the Production of
Affordable Housing
•Strategic Goal 3: Promote
Homeownership
•Strategic Goal 4: Advance
Sustainable Communities
•Strategic Goal 5: Strengthen
HUD’s Internal Capacity

Malaysia’s National Affordable

Housing Policy (DRMM)
• Improve housing affordability of
low-income groups
• Influence future housing
policies in Malaysia
 ELIGIBILITY
CRITERIA
•HUD Eligibility :
• Based on total annual gross income and family size
• Must be US Citizens or specified categories of non-citizens who
have eligible immigration status
• Family’s income may not exceed 50% of median income for the
county or metropolitan area in which the family chooses to live
• Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) may establish local preferences for
selecting applicants from its waiting list. For example, PHAs may
give a preference to a family who is (1) homeless or living in
substandard housing, (2) paying more than 50% of its income for
rent, or (3) involuntarily displaced.

Malaysia Affordable Housing (MyHome):

•Must be over 18 years of age
•Must be a Malaysian citizen
•Must be your first home purchase
•Family income no less than RM3,000
•Family income no more than RM6,000
 B E N E F I T S / S E R V I C E S
HUD: O F F E R E D
• participants are able to find
their own housing,
including single-family
homes, townhouses and
apartments.
• free to choose any housing
that meets the
requirements of the
program and is not limited
to units located in
subsidized housing
projects

• Following DRMM, MyHome scheme was introduced in 2014,

and aimed to deliver affordable low-cost housing for first-time
buyers in Malaysia
• successful applicants avoid the need to pay the standard 10%
down payment usually required on homes in Malaysia
• government pays an upfront subsidy to the developer that
includes the 10% deposit, along with the additional qualifying
payment amount
 FUNDING
DRMM and
subsequently
On the federal level, the “MyHome” are
Department of Housing and funded by Malaysia’s
Urban Development (HUD) Central Government
administers the program and
locally, vouchers are
administered by public housing
agencies (PHAs). Congress
annually appropriates funds for
vouchers.
 P O P U L AT I O N I N N E E D
VS
P O P U L AT I O N S E RV E D

the “haves”
and “have-
nots”
 POLICY
OUTCOMES
According to Freeman, “the federal government
currently provides assistance to approximately 4.6
million households, but roughly 9.7 million low-
income households receive no housing assistance”
(2002)

1.2 million Americans living in housing managed

by some 3,300 public-housing authorities, many
of which have received scores of 98 or higher out
of 100 in HUD’s public housing assessment
system” (Samuels, 2015). Malaysia’s DRMM strategies could not guarantee
housing affordability of low-income households due
to low wages in the economy were not able to rise
in a steady manner to meet the demand of
affordable houses being built. (Liu & Ong, 2021)
• For both assistance CHANGES/
programs, affordable
housing is only available on IMPROVEMENTS
a first come, first serve
basis. This method does not
aid in universality. It
bolsters a selective policy
that caters only to
individuals who meet strict
requirements.
• Improvement would be a
relaxed eligibility criteria
and the development of
affordable housing to house
and not for profit
 Increase Increase minimum wage- to allow working families the opportunity
to afford affordable housing, while advancing a working economy

Drop mortgage rate percentages- so that families who do qualify for

Drop housing do not fall behind on outstanding mortgage payments and
drift back into a homeless cycle
S T R AT E G I E S
FOR A
CHANGE Advertise full housing assistance- this assistance should be publicly
Advertise advertised on billboards, the side of buses, in-game apps, social
media, etc. This will increase coverage and knowledge of programs

Relax Relax eligibility requirements- lastly, this will ensure all individuals
have a right to private shelter
 1. https://www.iproperty.com.my/guides/best-public-and-social-housing-around-the-world-70972

2. Liu, J., & Ong, H. T. (2021). Can Malaysia’s National Affordable Housing Policy Guarantee
Housing Affordability of Low-Income Households? Sustainability, 13(16),
8841. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13168841
REFERENCES
3. https://www.hud.gov/press/press_releases_media_advisories/HUD_No_22_253

4. Einstein, Glick, D. M., & Palmer, M. (2020). Neighborhood Defenders: Participatory Politics and

America’s Housing Crisis. Political Science Quarterly, 135(2), 281–312.

https://doi.org/10.1002/polq.13035

5. https://www.propertyguru.com.my/property-guides/what-is-myhome-who-can-apply-for-it-

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