Management Issues

According to Lan Youcheng, head of the Temporary Party Office of the "Happy Home" community, the community is implementing an independent management structure under the leadership of the Administrative Committee of the community. "The Administrative Committee mainly takes charge of security, health and public order in the community. Every apartment and unit will elect a responsible individual, and every 100 apartments will elect one Representative to join the Administrative Committee," said Lan. "We have also laid out a residents' pact that will be posted in every apartment."

Lan noted that this temporary organization will shortly be replaced by a new administrative system. "It's now at the top of the Municipal Government's agenda," he added.

Lan pointed out that the "Happy Home" community would give top priority to families that have no houses, no jobs and no livelihood.

"Openness, justice and fairness will be the core principles in the process of the allocation of temporary homes,” said Wang Rui, director of the Construction Bureau of Mianyang City. He further noted that the definition and application of regulations is of primary importance, given the gap between current demand and available supply.

Unlike normal communities in China, there is a special organization called the "Psychological Welfare Station" in the "Happy Home" community. Lots of children come here to play games and attend activities.

"We filed an application for the establishment of this station and the government provided the office building for free,” said Shi Aiping, an overseas Chinese returnee and one of the two staff who came from a psychological counseling center in Shanghai.

"Our work here covers three stages: conciliation, psychological counseling and treatment," Shi said. "Currently the station liaises with schools in the community by providing a place for children to read, draw and play. We also give a weekly psychological art lesson, which gives us the opportunity to get inside the children's heads and provide them with appropriate conciliation and guidance."