Affordable and safe housing for single mothers in Japan

Introduction:

Some 14 per cent of Japanese homes, around nine million dwellings, are sitting vacant. This is expected to reach 30 per cent in 2030 as the country’s population continues to decline. Many of these homes have been inherited by people who have no use for them and yet are unable to sell, because of a shortage of interested buyers. In 2015, a new Vacant Houses law was passed to promote the demolition and reuse of abandoned houses. But there are many cases where the owners are unknown or insolvent and, in these instances, taxpayers end up footing the bill for demolition. Given the financial constraints in dismantling thousands of ‘akiya’, the government has begun reusing them as affordable rental housing for low-income individuals and families.

The process has been slow. Only a few ‘akiya’ owners gave permission for the government to re-use their houses. Additionally, any buildings suitable for affordable housing need to meet the government’s earthquake resistance standard regulations. The buildings which meet these standards are usually in high demand, can be rented on a commercial basis, and therefore are not available.

Key Features:

• The Department of Housing in Tokyo metropolitan government provides the grant for renovating the empty properties directly to the property owner. It has created a database of vacant houses providing information for the public to promote the reuse of these properties. It also connects Little Ones with building professionals such as registered architects for the renovation works.

• The Ministry of Land Infrastructure and Transport creates and oversees the legal framework for housing support and subsidizes the renovation of empty properties. It is also obligated to financially support local governments’ administrative efforts on the issues covered in the Vacant Houses law.

• A local real estate company provides information on the empty property and helps arrange the legal documents.

• A non-profit organization providing addiction recovery gives advice on how to look after single mothers suffering from mental illness and addiction.

Innovation of Affordable Housing:

Research has indicated how marginalized single mothers are in Japan which highlights the importance of this work. The project is the first in Japan to provide affordable housing for single mothers and their children by making use of unoccupied or abandoned houses in urban areas. It connects property owners, real estate agents and the government and empowers single mothers to improve their living conditions. It also supports the owners of empty properties to access government grants in order to carry out the renovations. Support networks are created and the project is helping to change misconceptions of a vulnerable group in this country.

Environmental Impact:

Earthquake risks combined with hefty inheritance tax and rapidly updating technology has led to a “scrap and build” culture in Japan. Simply knocking down houses and constructing again has been long favored which is neither environmentally nor financially sustainable. This project presents an environmentally sustainable alternative to a wasteful practice by reusing abandoned homes and turning them into affordable housing for low-income single mothers.

Social Impact:

By providing an integrated affordable housing and living support, the project enables single mothers and their children to live a stable healthy life. Tenants have a rental contract for two years and can request for an extension of the tenancy. For tenants who have difficulty in paying the rent, the project offers them support.

Conclusion:

Having been recognized as a model case by the national government, Little Ones has begun to scale up their approach in other cities in Japan such as Osaka and Chiba. It has partnered with several real estate agencies which support single mothers to find affordable housing. This has helped to find follow on housing for two single mothers in Osaka and ten single mothers in Chiba in 2018.

Little Ones is keen to share its experience with others around the world who work with low-income single mothers to gain access to safe and affordable housing or are tackling empty properties.

Also Read: Affordable Housing Incentives Offered Through the Pinellas County Land Development Code