Decision No. 167/2008/QĐ-TTg On Support Policies for Poor Households Regarding Housing

Pursuant to …;

On housing support policies for poor households

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PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the Government dated December 25, 2001;

Considering the proposal of the Minister of Construction.

DECISION:

Article 1. Implementing housing support policies for poor households with the aim of, together with the implementation of other policies under the National Target Program on Poverty Reduction for the period of 2006-2010, the State directly supports poor households to have stable, safe housing, gradually improving their standard of living; contributing to sustainable poverty reduction and eliminating hunger.

Article 2. Scope of Application

1. Objectives:

The subjects eligible for housing support under this Decision must meet all three conditions below:

a) They are poor households (as defined by the poverty standard set forth in Decision No. 170/2005/QĐ-TTg dated July 8, 2005 of the Prime Minister regarding the poverty standard applicable for the period of 2006-2010), residing in the locality, listed in the poor household registry managed by the People's Committee of the commune at the time this Decision takes effect;

b) Households without housing or already having housing but such housing is extremely temporary, dilapidated, leaking, at risk of collapse, and unable to improve their housing conditions themselves;

c) Households not falling within the category of beneficiaries of housing support as stipulated in Decision No. 134/2004/QĐ-TTg dated July 20, 2004 of the Prime Minister concerning certain policies to support production land, residential land, housing, and drinking water for poor ethnic minority households with difficult living conditions, and other housing support policies.

2. Priority ranking for support:

Priority support shall be given in the following order:

a) Households with meritorious service to the revolution;

b) Ethnic minority households;

c) Households residing in areas frequently affected by natural disasters;

d) Households in difficult circumstances (elderly, single, disabled...);

đ) Households residing in particularly difficult areas;

e) Other households.

3. Scope of application:

The housing support policy for poor households shall be applied to households belonging to the target group as specified in this Decision, residing in non-urban areas throughout the country.

Article 3. Principles of Support

1. Direct support to households to build housing according to the specified categories.

2. Ensuring transparency, fairness, and clarity for each household based on laws and state policies; being consistent with the customs and traditions of each ethnic group, region, preserving the cultural identity of each ethnic group; being suitable to practical conditions and linked to local socio-economic development plans.

3. The State provides support, communities assist, and households contribute to construct a house with a minimum usable area of 24 square meters.²; the lifespan of the house should be ten years or more.

Article 4. Level of support, loan amount, and loan method

1. Level of support:

The central budget will provide direct support of six million dong per household. For households in the target group residing in administrative units within difficult regions as defined in Decision No. 30/2007/QĐ-TTg dated March 5, 2007 of the Prime Minister regarding the list of administrative units in difficult regions, the central budget will provide direct support of seven million dong per household. Localities are responsible for providing additional support beyond the central budget allocation and mobilizing community assistance for households building houses.

2. Loan amount and loan method:

a) Loan amount: Households in need may borrow credit from the Social Policy Budget to build housing. The maximum loan amount is eight million dong per household, with an interest rate of 3% per year. The loan term is ten years, including a grace period of five years. The repayment period is five years, with a minimum annual repayment of 20% of the total borrowed amount;

b) Loan method: The Social Policy Bank implements the entrusted loan method through political and social organizations or direct loans. For entrusted loans through political and social organizations, the management of funds, accounting records, and disbursement to borrowers are carried out by the Social Policy Bank.

Article 5. Quantity of support and sources of funding

1. Quantity of support:

It is estimated that a total of 500,000 households will be supported for housing under this Decision.

2. Sources of funding:

a) Local budgets allocate matching funds of no less than 20% compared to the central budget guarantee, while also mobilizing other legitimate sources of funds to implement this goal and policy. For localities facing budget difficulties (receiving supplementary balance from the central budget), the central budget will supplement the matching fund as follows: 20% for localities receiving supplementary balance from the central budget exceeding 70% of the 2008 local budget expenditure forecast; 15% for localities receiving supplementary balance between 50% and 70% of the 2008 local budget expenditure forecast; 10% for localities receiving supplementary balance below 50% of the 2008 local budget expenditure forecast;

b) The Social Policy Budget ensures funding for households eligible for loans as stipulated in this Decision. The loan capital is provided by the central budget at 50% of the total loan amount for the Social Policy Bank, with the remaining 50% raised by the Social Policy Budget. The central budget compensates the Social Policy Bank for the interest rate difference according to regulations;

c) Funds raised from the "Day for the Poor" Fund launched by the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee and from enterprises mobilized by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry;

d) Community-raised funds, clan funds, and self-contributions from the supported households;

đ) For localities with forests and approved annual timber harvesting plans, the provincial People's Committees can harvest timber according to regulations to support poor households in building houses. The specific volume of timber for each household is decided by the provincial People's Committee. Strictly prohibit the misuse of timber harvested for house construction purposes to cut down forests for other uses.

Article 6. Implementation method

1. Review and approve the list of housing support recipients:

- Village and hamlet bases organize reviews of the target groups and prioritize them according to regulations, ensuring transparency and clarity;

- The People's Committee of the commune compiles the list of households to be supported and simultaneously prepares a list of households requiring loans to report to the People's Committee of the district for approval by the provincial People's Committee.

2. Allocation of funds for house construction:

- On the basis of the allocated capital from the central budget, local budget, capital mobilized by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry for allocation to localities, and other legally raised capital sources, the People's Committee of the province shall allocate to the district level and simultaneously send the list of borrowers to the Social Policy Bank for loan implementation. For households supported from the capital raised by the Vietnam Fatherland Front at all levels and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry where the support amount is insufficient compared to the loan amount stipulated in this Decision, they may borrow the remaining amount.

- On the basis of the capital allocated by the People's Committee of the province, the People's Committee of the district shall allocate the support capital to the commune level.

The management, distribution, payment, and settlement of the support capital shall be carried out in accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Finance.

For loans, households directly sign loan agreements in accordance with the regulations of the Social Policy Bank.

3. Implementing house construction:

- The People's Committee of the commune assigns the Poverty Reduction Board of the commune to guide, inspect, urge households to construct houses in compliance with the area and quality requirements stipulated in this Decision and encourage households to build their own houses. For households in difficult circumstances (elderly, single, disabled...) who cannot build their own houses, the Poverty Reduction Board of the commune shall organize the construction of houses for these groups.

Article 7. Timeframe and Progress

1. In 2008, provinces and centrally-administered cities must basically complete the assessment and establishment of lists of poor households eligible for housing support according to this Decision; and establish and approve the Housing Support Program for Poor Households on the provincial and centrally-administered city levels based on the guidance documents of the Ministry of Construction and the Ministry of Finance.

2. By the end of 2011, the policy of supporting poor households for housing must be basically completed, including the completion of support for poor households under policy categories and ethnic minority poor households as specified.

3. By the end of 2012, the policy of supporting poor households for housing according to this Decision must be fully implemented.

4. In 2013, conduct a summary and evaluation of the implementation of the policy of supporting poor households for housing.

Article 8. Implementation

1. Regarding central ministries and sectors

a) Ministry of Construction:

- Take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors: Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, Ministry of Planning and Investment, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, National Ethnic Minorities Committee, Social Policy Bank to guide provinces and centrally-administered cities in establishing the Housing Support Program for Poor Households;

- Establish a Steering Committee to direct the implementation of the policy of supporting poor households for housing with the participation of representatives from relevant ministries and sectors: Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, Ministry of Planning and Investment, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, National Ethnic Minorities Committee, Social Policy Bank;

- Take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Ministry of Finance, and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to guide, urge, and inspect the implementation of the policy of supporting poor households for housing in accordance with the objectives and requirements; compile and regularly report the results of implementation to the Prime Minister;

- Prepare the budget for the activities of the Steering Committee to direct the implementation of the policy of supporting poor households for housing for the entire program and annually submit it to the Ministry of Finance for coordination and allocation of activity funds for the Steering Committee.

b) The Ministry of Planning and Investment, based on the Housing Support Program for Poor Households approved by the Chairmen of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities, shall coordinate with the Ministry of Finance to aggregate plans and allocate targeted funds for localities in the state budget plan for 2009 and subsequent years to report to the Prime Minister for submission to the National Assembly for approval;

c) Ministry of Finance:

- Take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment to balance and allocate central government budget funds to support households within the specified target group and allocate funds to the Social Policy Bank for loan implementation as stipulated;

- Take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Construction and the Ministry of Planning and Investment to balance and allocate central government budget funds to ensure means and operating costs for the Steering Committee to direct the implementation of the policy of supporting poor households for housing according to the annual operating budget;

- Guide localities in the preparation of budget estimates, management, distribution, payment, and settlement of support funds.

d) The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall guide the exploitation of wood according to regulations to support poor households in building houses in areas with forests and annual wood exploitation plans that have been approved;

đ) The State Bank of Vietnam shall instruct the Social Policy Bank to implement loans, recover loan debts, and provide specific guidance on loan application procedures to ensure simplicity, clarity, and ease of implementation.

2. For the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities:

a) The People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities shall bear full responsibility for establishing, approving programs, and organizing the implementation of the policy of supporting poor households for housing;

b) Publicize the criteria, target groups, and direct the assessment and establishment of lists of poor households facing difficulties with housing; prioritize support for target groups as specified. Direct the establishment and approval of lists of poor households eligible for loans to build houses according to this Decision.

c) Submit the Housing Support Program for Poor Households on the provincial level, which has been approved, to the Ministry of Construction as the leading agency, and simultaneously submit it to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Ministry of Finance, Social Policy Bank, and related ministries and sectors for coordination, urging, inspection, compilation, and reporting to the Prime Minister;

d) Direct the preparation of budget estimates, management, allocation, payment, and settlement of support funds in accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Finance;

đ) Assign the organization and direction of the implementation of the policy of supporting poor households for housing to the Poverty Reduction Implementation Steering Committee at all levels of the province and centrally-administered city; assign the Department of Construction as the permanent body to direct the implementation of the policy of supporting poor households for housing as stipulated in this Decision;

e) Allocate sufficient counterpart funds as stipulated in this Decision. Direct related agencies, local authorities at all levels to cooperate with organizations and mass associations in the locality to mobilize community assistance for poor households to build houses.

g) Regularly inspect the implementation to ensure that the policy reaches each poor household with housing difficulties; prevent any loss or corruption; ensure that poor households have housing after receiving support in accordance with the provisions of this Decision;

h) Report on the results of implementing the housing support policy for poor households to the Ministry of Construction every six months for consolidation and reporting to the Prime Minister.

3. Request the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee to continue promoting the "Day for the Poor" campaign, and coordinate with the Government and local authorities at all levels in mobilizing additional resources to support poor households with housing.

Coordinate with the Ministry of Construction and relevant ministries and sectors in allocating funds raised by the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (including monetary funds or in-kind contributions such as houses, construction materials, etc.) to localities in a reasonable and equitable manner. Request the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee to perform its supervisory function to ensure that the policy implementation process meets the objectives and requirements. The Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry actively mobilize businesses to support and assist poor households in improving their housing conditions.

Article 9. This Decision takes effect fifteen days after its publication in the Official Gazette.

Article 10. The Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of government agencies, Chairpersons of provincial People's Committees under the direct jurisdiction of the central government shall be responsible for implementing this Decision./.