Jeonnam Province, Making Every Effort to Provide Stable Housing Life

Nationwide Unique Housing Welfare Project 'Haengbokdungji Project' Fully Launched

[Muan=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Jeonnam Province is making every effort to provide stable housing for housing-vulnerable people who are in the blind spots of housing welfare.

The province announced on the 8th that it will fully promote the '2021 Happy Nest Project,' the only housing welfare project in the country.

The Happy Nest Project started in 2016 as a housing environment improvement project, changed its name in 2017, and has carried out housing repair and renovation projects for a total of 707 households to date.

Until 2018, the project was promoted with provincial and city/county funds, and since 2019, it has secured about 2 billion won annually from the lottery fund to contribute to improving the housing environment for residents.

The project targets basic livelihood security recipients, lower-income groups, and national/independence merit recipients whose housing environment is extremely poor and who do not receive support from the formal system.

It is a practical housing welfare project focusing on improving housing safety facilities such as structure, electricity, and gas, as well as convenience facilities such as heating, kitchen, and bathroom, moving beyond simple aesthetic improvements, wallpaper, and flooring replacement. The satisfaction level of the beneficiaries is analyzed to be very high.

This year, with a project budget of 3.2 billion won, including 2.4 billion won from the lottery fund and 800 million won from city/county funds, about 170 households' homes will be repaired and renovated. It is promoted jointly by the private and public sectors, including the Korea Housing Construction Association Gwangju-Jeonnam Branch and the Jeonnam Architectural Society.

In particular, the support amount has been expanded from 20 million won per household last year to 25 million won.

The province expects that by providing an additional 5 million won for bathroom renovation, it will be of practical help in housing convenience.

Eligible applicants for the Happy Nest Project can apply at the local town, township, or neighborhood community service centers. For more details, inquiries can be made to the city/county Happy Nest Project department.

Jeon Dong-ho, Director of the Construction and Transportation Bureau of Jeonnam Province, said, “I feel rewarded when I see housing-vulnerable people with poor housing environments satisfied after their homes are repaired,” and added, “We will do our best to ensure that more residents benefit in the future.”