Housing has consistently been one of Macau’s most pressing social issues. In the current context of economic recession and high unemployment, many young people, despite years of hard work, are still unable to afford the high prices of private housing, facing the situation with growing frustration. Public housing should serve as essential support for young couples aspiring to purchase their first home. However, they are confronted with increasing housing pressure and long waiting times, highlighting the urgent need to revise the current housing policy.
Originally, Macau’s public housing policy aimed to safeguard the housing needs of low- and middle-income families, ensuring that every family could have a home. However, the current policy — particularly regarding affordable housing — has gradually drifted away from this goal. After the pandemic, Macau’s economy suffered a major blow, affecting all sectors. Layoffs and salary cuts significantly reduced young people’s incomes, and despite a decline in private housing prices, homes remain unaffordable for most — especially when considering the rising cost of living.
Public housing should be a last-resort safety net, yet the pricing and application requirements have made it increasingly out of reach. For instance, the government-announced price per square foot for affordable housing in 2024 is MOP 3,300 — a figure disconnected from the stagnating real estate market and one that raises doubts about the value and attractiveness of such housing, due to high prices and strict eligibility criteria.
Moreover, the current eligibility requirements are overly restrictive, excluding many young people with genuine housing needs. The income and asset thresholds prevent families who earn just slightly above the limit — but who still cannot afford a home on the private market — from applying. The application process is also complex, requiring a large volume of documentation and consuming time and energy, which undermines the system’s effectiveness.
Given that the government’s construction cost per square foot for public housing now ranges between MOP 3,000 and MOP 4,000 — sometimes exceeding market values — it is essential that the government reassess this pricing policy. Based on the post-pandemic decline in private market prices, the administration should adjust the pricing of affordable housing to more realistic and accessible levels. This would strengthen young people’s motivation to become homeowners. In parallel, the eligibility criteria should be revised, and the application procedures simplified, allowing more people with real needs to access this type of housing.
