The goal is to create 100,000 housing units within 5 years, starting from 2021 to 2025. The National Housing Authority plans to construct 20,000 units per year, utilizing the principles of sufficiency economy to develop careers and generate income for residents under the Housing for Happiness project, as presented by the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security to the Cabinet, which acknowledged it on June 30, 2020.

The project has become clearer under the government's policy led by General Prayuth Chan-o-cha, the Prime Minister, aiming to provide housing for all Thai people, especially for low-income and vulnerable groups. Previously, these groups had very limited access to quality housing. Importantly, the goal is to reduce social inequality, ensuring that citizens live well, eat well, and have a good quality of life with sufficient income to support their families. This is the origin of the "Housing for Happiness" project, which combines rental housing with career opportunities.

General Prayuth Chan-o-cha, the Prime Minister has instructed the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, through the National Housing Authority, to implement the Housing for Happiness project while simultaneously developing community economies, enabling citizens to "have a home - have a job - have income - have happiness" to enhance the quality of life of residents, allowing them to work according to the principles of sufficiency economy.

The "Housing for Happiness" project is advancing rapidly, driven by Mr. Juti Krairerk, Minister of Social Development and Human Security who prioritizes low-income and vulnerable groups, believing that a good society starts from a "home" in a warm family. When residents live in quality projects with good environments, it will elevate their quality of life and uplift society. Previously, 302 units of the Housing for Happiness project in Chao Phraya were delivered as a pilot project on April 5, 2021, and recently, 270 units of the Housing for Happiness project in Romklao were delivered on December 3, 2021, marking the second project.

 

Such a challenging mission will not achieve quick success unless the National Housing Authority, under the leadership of Mr. Thawipong Vichaidit, the Governor, recognizes the importance of low-income and vulnerable citizens. Immediately after the Cabinet approved the project, the Governor mobilized the knowledge and capabilities of the management team, including experts, and conducted surveys to understand the needs of the target groups in a "build according to the residents' preferences" manner. This ensures that the Housing for Happiness project is designed to meet the needs of tenants, integrating technology and innovations for housing to create convenience, cleanliness, and safety for residents.

The Housing for Happiness project in Romklao is located on Romklao Road, Khlong Song Ton Nun Sub-district, Lat Krabang District, Bangkok, covering an area of 20.26 rai with 270 units, consisting of 86 single-storey twin houses and 184 two-storey houses. The living space is allocated according to the suitability for target groups as follows: for persons with disabilities and the elderly (Type X) with a living area of 30 square meters, for singles (Type A) with a living area of 30 square meters, for new households (Type B) with a living area of 40 square meters, and for families (Type C) with a living area of 50 square meters, with rental prices starting from only 1,500 to 3,000 baht per month.

Within the Housing for Happiness project in Romklao, a "Happiness Economy" area is also being prepared, which will be developed in the form of a community mall to support employment and create jobs for residents in the community, as well as to elevate the quality of life of residents sustainably.

 

The Governor of the National Housing Authority also stated that the development of the Housing for Happiness project in each area will provide job opportunities for residents up to 6 professions to ensure that residents have jobs and income, including organic farming, livestock, community service professions, small-scale industries, and retail-wholesale centers, to develop the community's grassroots economy to be self-sufficient sustainably, supporting the community economy according to the local context from production to distribution channels, which will help each family earn an income of 40,000 baht per month.

For the year 2022, the National Housing Authority plans to construct 13 more Housing for Happiness projects totaling 3,948 units in Pathum Thani, Nakhon Pathom, Samut Prakan, Chachoengsao, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Chonburi, Chiang Mai, Rayong, and Saraburi provinces. Currently, planning is underway in collaboration with the National Economic and Social Development Council before presenting it to the Cabinet for approval.

In the future, the National Housing Authority plans to continue the Housing for Happiness project with over 30,000 units in a joint investment with the private sector, partnering with Housing for Happiness Public Company Limited to ensure that citizens can access standard housing at affordable prices that they can bear, along with developing careers to generate sustainable income.

 

In addition to the "Housing for Happiness" project, Mr. Juti Krairerk, Minister of Social Development and Human Security, has also instructed the National Housing Authority to reclaim rental buildings from private companies, totaling 60 contracts with 32,632 units. The plan includes reclaiming buildings from major private companies under 35 contracts totaling 29,966 units and from smaller companies under 35 contracts totaling 2,666 units. Initially, the National Housing Authority has piloted 2 contracts, namely the Nawamin Community Housing Project and the O Ngoen Community Housing Project. Since then, the authority has continuously reclaimed rental buildings from private companies, currently having reclaimed 33 contracts, with plans to complete the process by December 31, 2022.

From discussions with residents living in the rental buildings reclaimed by the National Housing Authority, they are all satisfied with the improved quality of life, having jobs, income, reduced expenses, and increased life stability, concluding that the community care and management by the National Housing Authority is on par with private housing development projects!