Mr. Taweepong Vichaidit, Governor of the National Housing Authority, presided over a press conference marking the 51st anniversary of the National Housing Authority (NHA) and presented the operational results for the fiscal year 2023 along with plans for housing development in fiscal year 2024. The event was attended by executives, staff of the NHA, and media representatives at the meeting room on the 3rd floor of the Recreation Building, NHA Headquarters, Khlong Chan, Bang Kapi, Bangkok.

Mr. Taweepong Vichaidit stated that the National Housing Authority is a state enterprise under the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS), with a primary mission to develop housing, communities, and cities while improving the quality of life for residents. Currently, it operates under the vision of "Building Homes, Creating Happiness for a Better Quality of Life". On February 12, 2024, it will celebrate its 51st anniversary. Over the past half-century, the NHA has developed a total of 752,160 housing units across various projects, including community housing projects, affordable housing, urban renewal projects in Din Daeng, and rental buildings. In the 2023 Integrity and Transparency Assessment (ITA), the NHA scored 96.24 out of 100, ranking third among agencies under the MSDHS and sixteenth among all 51 state enterprises evaluated. Additionally, it received the "Compliance Award" as a pilot agency under the Government Platform for PDPA Compliance (GPPC) project, with plans to fully implement the GPPC platform in all activities in 2024.

Last year, the NHA also received the FIABCI-Thai Prix d'Excellence Awards 2023 for outstanding real estate in the low-income housing category for the community housing and services project in Chonburi (Bo Win) Phase 2, which met the energy efficiency standards for residential buildings (House No. 5) and was certified by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand. This aligns with the policy of Mr. Warawut Silpa-archa, Minister of Social Development and Human Security, emphasizing "creating a livable society" through sustainable construction and environmentally friendly building designs that also reduce living costs for residents in NHA projects.

The Governor of the National Housing Authority further stated that the NHA is currently driving its mission under the National Housing Authority Business Plan for 2023-2027 (revised in 2023) and the annual action plan for 2024, accelerating the implementation of the "Quick Win" project with specific targets, including the Delivery Unit Management Project to deliver 6,000 ready-to-sell housing units, the Construction Management Project to build over 3,000 environmentally friendly housing units, and the Asset Utilization Project to optimize vacant land within NHA housing projects. The Rental Building Management Project will also promote awareness through public and private sectors to meet rental targets.

Additionally, there is a focus on large-scale "targeted projects" that will develop mixed-use/mixed-income housing to accommodate all citizens at affordable prices, including the Urban Renewal Project in Din Daeng, Phases 2-4. Currently, two buildings are under construction: Building D1, a 35-story building with 612 units, is 96.35% complete and is in the landscaping phase, including roads, gardens, finishing touches, and system testing. It is expected to be completed around February 2024, with residents moving in by April 2024. On February 4, 2024, the NHA held an orientation for existing residents of Flats 23-32 to prepare for their move and conducted a lottery for 363 housing units in the Urban Renewal Project in Din Daeng, Phase 2, Building D1. A total of 139 applicants received compensation of 400,000 baht each for opting out of housing. Additionally, 32 units were allocated for extended families. Building A1, a 32-story building with 635 units, is currently seeking a new contractor, and construction is expected to be completed by mid-2026.

The Housing for Happiness Project is a rental housing initiative with a focus on "having a home, having a job, having income, and being happy." Currently, two pilot projects have been constructed and delivered, totaling 572 units: the Housing for Happiness Project in Romklao with 270 units (95.55% occupancy) and the Housing for Happiness Project in Chaloem Krung with 302 units (90.39% occupancy).

The Housing for the Elderly Project in Samut Prakan (Thepharak) is designed for elderly residents, emphasizing Universal Design. The project is divided into four phases, totaling 90 buildings and 3,956 units, located in Bang Phli Yai, Samut Prakan. Currently, 45 prototype units have been completed, and in 2024, the NHA will seek cabinet approval for Phase 1, Part 2, and Phase 2, totaling 876 units.

The Feasibility Study for Mixed-Use Development along the mass transit rail network (Transit Oriented Development: TOD) in Romklao is located on Ruam Phatthana Road, Lam Phak Chi, Lat Krabang, Bangkok, covering approximately 352 rai. Phase 1 will involve the construction of about 8,000 units under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in accordance with the Public-Private Partnership Act of 2019. Currently, the feasibility study report is being discussed with relevant agencies, such as the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) and the State Enterprise Policy Office (SEPO), before being presented to the National Housing Authority Board for approval.

The Housing Development Loan Program for Low-Income Individuals aims to assist low-income and vulnerable groups who cannot obtain loans from financial institutions. From September 2020 to 2023, 2,236 loans have been approved, including 1,865 for general customers and 281 for vulnerable groups, totaling 1,453.89 million baht. In fiscal year 2024, 171 loans have been granted, amounting to 110.913 million baht.

Regarding the implementation of policies for fiscal year 2024, Mr. Taweepong noted that there is still a demand for affordable housing among the public. The NHA's housing projects are reasonably priced and accessible, available in three formats: 1) Rent-to-own with the NHA, 2) Installment payments with financial institutions, and 3) Installment payments through the Housing Development Loan Program for low-income individuals in case of loan rejection by financial institutions.

In 2024, the NHA will have "ready-to-move-in" homes available for sale and rent, including the First Jobber Housing Project in Bangkok and surrounding areas, totaling 6,928 units, divided into 5,500 for sale and 1,428 for rent. Additionally, there are housing development projects catering to all target groups (for sale/for rent), including 21 projects approved by the cabinet in 2024, totaling 5,342 units, 606 units under construction, 9,927 units planned for construction, and 2,429 units completed, along with the Urban Renewal Project in Din Daeng, Phase 2, Building D1 with 612 units.

Currently, the NHA is also offering special promotions for all target groups interested in its projects, both for rent and purchase. For rental projects, the First Jobber Rental Housing is available for young professionals or those interested, with selected projects in various high-potential locations in Bangkok and surrounding areas, totaling 1,428 units, starting now until November 30, 2024, with rental rates of 1,500 baht/month for floors 1-4 and 1,200 baht/month for floor 5. For purchase projects, the House for All initiative is available for all income groups wanting to buy their own homes, with over 5,500 units selected from various locations nationwide, requiring a minimum reservation fee of 1,000 baht from now until March 31, 2024, along with special promotions: a 5-20% discount and an additional discount of 60,000-120,000 baht for those opting for direct installment payments with the NHA. For housing priced below 1,000,000 baht, a special interest rate of 4.50% per annum will apply in the first year, and in case of loan rejection by financial institutions, customers can apply for loans through the Housing Development Loan Program for low-income individuals at a special interest rate of 1.50% per annum in the first year.

Furthermore, the NHA has plans to prepare and adapt vulnerable populations to address climate change, in line with the policy of Mr. Warawut Silpa-archa, Minister of Social Development and Human Security, who is concerned about the impact of climate change on citizens and vulnerable groups. The NHA has developed environmentally friendly housing to reduce energy consumption and living costs for residents, implementing three measures to combat climate change: 1. Housing development projects for all target groups, including 21 projects approved by the cabinet in 2024, totaling 5,342 units, and 3,041 units under construction or completed; 2. The First Jobber Housing Project, providing 6,928 ready-to-move-in units, including 5,500 for sale and 1,428 for rent; 3. The Smart Sustainable Community (SSC) project, promoting quality of life improvements in four dimensions: economic, participatory, health, and environmental, through various activities such as waste banks, solar cell installations, increasing green spaces in communities, organizing family-friendly events, and community beautification contests.

Another initiative is the Capacity Building Project for Local Administrative Organizations under the housing development plan and community congestion problem-solving plan, aimed at creating strategies and plans for housing development by integrating cooperation among relevant agencies and stakeholders, responding to government policies on economic area development and regional prosperity, targeting two groups of provinces in eight areas: the lower northeastern provinces of Amnat Charoen, Si Sa Ket, Yasothon, Ubon Ratchathani, and the lower northern provinces of Kamphaeng Phet, Phichit, Nakhon Sawan, and Uthai Thani.

"In the 51st year of the National Housing Authority, we have developed over 750,000 housing units for the public while also enhancing the quality of life in all dimensions, including physical aspects, such as improving the environment in projects to make them livable and safe; social aspects, such as establishing community leaders or committees to drive and integrate efforts between the NHA, community residents, and related networks to enhance the quality of life in communities; and economic aspects, such as providing vocational training for community residents to develop supplementary or primary income sources, thereby increasing the stability of community income. All of these efforts are just part of the NHA's initiatives, and all personnel remain committed to dedicating resources to create housing and improve the quality of life for NHA residents to the best of their abilities," the Governor of the National Housing Authority emphasized.