Affordable Housing And The Well-Being Of Urban Families In Penang Island, Malaysia

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Date
2018-05
Authors
Chieng, Samson Kuan Meng
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Publisher
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
As Penang Island is going through rapid urban development, there is an obvious growth in the urban population which eventually result in the increase of demand towards housing. The scarcity of land leads to a scenario that pushes up the land use density and values that lead to concerns that are reflected on the well-being of the urban families in Penang Island. The objectives of this thesis are to understand how the urban families in Penang Island define the concept of affordable housing, to identify the issues and challenges faced by urban families in Penang Island pertaining to affordable housing ownership and to analyse the effects of affordable housing on the well-being. To achieve the objectives, 31 heads of urban households from the low- and middle-income groups in Penang Island were selected using purposive sampling technique and interviewed through semi-structured interview method. Direct observations were also carried out to understand more about the living style of these families and their current living conditions. Subsequently, the qualitative data collected were analysed using thematic content analysis technique. This study found five main issues and challenges faced by the urban families in Penang Island which are expensive pricing of houses, lack of affordable housing, high urban living cost, difficulties to obtain bank loan and low income. The issues and challenges, if not taken into serious consideration by the relevant parties, will affect the well-being of urban families in Penang Island. It is suggested that the stakeholders should play their role effectively for a successful implementation of affordable housing concept; urban dwellers to have a better financial planning; policy makers to ensure a more standardised implementation of the concept; and local developers to cooperate with the government in constructing the housing schemes.
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Keywords
Affordable housing and the well-being of , urban families in Penang island, Malaysia
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