The Housing and Development Board (HDB) is awarded for providing one of Asia's and the world's greenest, cleanest and most socially conscious housing programmes. For over half a century, HDB has housed a growing population and played an integral part in Singapore's nation building. Today, more than 8 in 10 Singaporeans live in HDB apartments and more than 9 in 10 of them own the apartment in which they live. HDB and Singapore are global pioneers in when it comes to thinking of the needs of various sectors of society – young couples, the elderly, or disabled, to cite a few and to develop housing and surrounds that cater to their needs.