Evaluation of the currentconditions public housing under the use of Ministry of National Defence:Case of MSB Oran Public Housing

Housing or, in a broader sense, the shelter problem, has been among the primary concerns in human life from the earliest times to the present. The concept of public housing (quarters), which emerged as a solution to the housing problem of workers migrating from rural settlements to cities during the Industrial Revolution in many countries, came into prominence and use in the Ottoman Empire to address the housing needs of personnel assigned to public spaces such as mosques and railways. Following the establishment of the Republic, the lack of housing at a level to meet the needs of personnel serving in Anatolia brought the housing issue to the agenda. In recent years, the concept of public housing has become a subject of debate due to the relatively low rent compared to market values and the benefits it provides to public employees. This research examines housing and shelter policies, addresses the need for housing, especially for military personnel, along with the development of legislation. The number of housing units allocated to the Ministry of National Defense, the balance of income and expenses, and the utilization rates of personnel are analyzed to present the benefits and burdens of public housing on the country's economy. Finally, the current status of the Oran Public Housing of the Ministry of National Defense in Dumlupınar neighborhood, Çankaya district, Ankara, where personnel reside with their families, is evaluated in the context of legislation, considering the deteriorating condition of the aging buildings. According to the research findings, it has been evaluated that the public housing policy, initiated with the proclamation of the Republic, cannot be considered separately from the housing issues experienced by public personnel. The cost of the urban transformation project for the Oran Public Housing examined as an example, has been discussed to the contribution it would make to individuals and real estate projects in the local settlement. A project proposal has been formulated based on the zoning plan developed by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change for the area. It should be acknowledged that meeting the housing needs of personnel actively engaged in national security, along with their families, in public housing that do not require security and maintenance across the country, can enhance their focus on duties and provide motivation, ensuring the safety of their families. In this context, the declaration of both the scrutinized Oran Public Housing and others with sufficient parcel size and zoning rights as transformation project areas, maintaining building density at the same level as surrounding parcels, developing the project with support from relevant ministries and universities, having the construction executed by the Mass Housing Administration, and entrusting the management of the public housing to professional facility management companies during the operational period should be emphasized as measures that could yield economic and social benefits.