Singapore's Public Housing: From Slums to Million-Dollar Flats

Singapore’s skyline tells a story—not of luxury condos, but of one of the world’s most ambitious social experiments. In this episode, we unpack how H.D.B. housing transformed a nation of overcrowded slums into a country where most citizens live in clean, subsidized, thoughtfully designed high-rises. These “new towns” weren’t just about shelter; they were engineered for community, racial integration, and national identity. But today, the system faces a new challenge: soaring resale prices, million-dollar flats, and growing anxiety over affordability. As the government races to cool the market with grants, restrictions, and policy tweaks, we ask: can Singapore preserve the unity and stability its housing miracle created—or is the pressure building in its foundations?https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/24/world/asia/singapore-public-housing-program.html