Chiu Chen-yuan challenges county chief candidates on social housing completion

A political debate is heating up in Hsinchu County, Taiwan, over the urgent need for social housing in Zhubei City. Chiu Chen-yuan, a candidate for mayor of Zhubei City representing the People's Party, has launched a campaign demanding answers from county chief candidates regarding the status of social housing projects. Chiu highlights that while other areas in Hsinchu County have made progress, Zhubei City, despite being the most populous and having the highest rents, has yet to complete a single social housing unit.

Chiu Chen-yuan's campaign, titled "Where is Zhubei Social Housing? Next County Chief, Please Answer," specifically questions the commitment of Democratic Progressive Party candidate Cheng Chao-fang and Kuomintang candidate Hsu Hsin-ying. Chiu emphasizes that social housing is more than just buildings; it's a vehicle for comprehensive care policies, including integrating public childcare, long-term care, and social welfare facilities into the lower floors. This, he argues, is crucial for Zhubei's future as it faces continued population growth.

Responding to Chiu's call, Cheng Chao-fang's office stated that practical land assessment and actively integrating central government resources to promote diverse housing policies are essential for realizing these goals. Meanwhile, Hsu Hsin-ying's office expressed hope for a collaborative governance model between Hsinchu County and Zhubei City. They stressed the importance of close communication on social housing sites and project planning to help young families live more securely and comfortably. Hsu's office also urged the central government to fulfill its previous commitment of building 130,000 social housing units, questioning recent reports of unfulfilled promises.

Chiu's running mate for Zhubei City Councilor, Yu Ya-ting, added that robust social housing policies provide essential living options for teachers and young people, forming a cornerstone for quality education and sustainable urban development. Another candidate, Lin Rui-te, suggested that land development should not be entirely sold off, advocating for a "land reserve system" to prioritize sites for social housing. Chiu's team has posed two specific questions to the next county chief: Will the first social housing unit in Zhubei City be completed during their term? And will they commit to social housing reaching 5% of Zhubei City's total households as a long-term vision?