TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Interior Minister Liu Shih-fang (劉世芳) criticized housing justice advocacy groups on Tuesday for focusing their criticism on the government’s plan to scale back housing subsidies under its Support One Million Rental Households Program, saying the groups lacked a comprehensive understanding of the program.
The Organization of Urban Re-s (OURs) criticized the government for scaling back its social housing construction target, arguing that alternatives such as rent subsidies and rental management programs would cost more in the long run and provide less protection for vulnerable groups, per UDN. OURs also published what it said was a draft of the ministry’s latest version of the program.
The draft released by OURs indicated that the number of households receiving rent subsidies would fall from the current level of roughly 910,000 to 500,000 in 2032. The interior ministry said Monday that it would expand social housing construction and its rental subleasing and management program to fill the gap created by the reduction in rent subsidies, per CNA.
The ministry stressed that it would maintain its goal of supporting 1 million households while making adjustments when necessary. Liu reiterated the claim, saying the changes concern only how the government will reach the 1-million-household target, not whether it will achieve it, per NOWNews.
Liu said the current emphasis on rent subsidies is due to their immediate impact, compared with the longer setup time required for rental management programs and social housing construction. She added that advocacy groups should understand the policies they criticize in their entirety rather than focusing on individual components.
OURs researcher Liao Ting-hui (廖庭輝) said the draft indicated that the number of households receiving rent subsidies would fall from the planned 650,000 in 2026 to 500,000 in 2032. He noted that the planned increase in rental management units from 100,000 in 2026 to 350,000 in 2032 was intended to accommodate households not covered by either the rent subsidy or social housing programs.
Liao said rental management programs provide slightly more protection than rent subsidies but offer less protection and cost-effectiveness than social housing. He said subsidy programs, unlike social housing construction, do not leave the government with physical assets and would reduce the number of social housing units once the programs end.
Liao also questioned the planned expansion of the rental management program, citing concerns regarding market conditions, the industry’s capacity, and the government’s oversight capabilities. He warned that rapid expansion could lead to more scandals.
KMT Legislator Hsu Yu-chen (許宇甄) called on the government to explain the rationale behind scaling back its social housing construction target, identify who could be affected by the reduction in rent subsidies, and clarify its proposed reforms to the program amid the ongoing Chao Chi Property Management Consulting controversy, per FTNN.
KMT Legislator Lee Yen-hsiu (李彥秀) suggested that the government’s continued adjustments to its social housing program could reflect the fiscal burden created by increased defense spending, per UDN.
