Public perception of low-cost flats: A case study of the District of Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, Indonesia

One of the ways to meet the public housing needs in a densely populated city center is for the government to build low-cost flats so that low-income people can have a decent home. This study surveys the public perception of government initiated low-cost flats in the District of Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, involving a total of 101 respondents altogether. Results of the primary data analyses revealed factors that influenced people s interest in choosing the flats, namely, the distance from the flats to work place, affordable cost, safety and comfort. Curiously, however, it was found that the provision of the low-cost flats here had not met the original target of housing for the urban poor as most of the respondents turned out to be not poor with an average monthly income of more than Rp 2,000,000 / month. Obviously, the onus was on the authorities to see to the proper enforcement of laws to safeguard the right of the low-income urbanites to affordable housing.