INTERIM RENTAL HOUSING

INTERIM RENTAL HOUSING:

(Transition to long-term housing): The following Question stood in the name of Dr Ahmad Mohd Magad –

3. To ask the Minister for National Development since the introduction of the Interim Rental Housing (IRH) scheme in 2009 (a) what is the average duration that a family remains under the IRH; (b) what efforts are being made to help these families transit from interim housing arrangements; and (c) how many families have been successfully moved into more sustainable living arrangements.

Mdm Halimah Yacob: Question No. 3, Sir.

Column: 2829

The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for National Development (Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman) (for the Minister for National Development): Mr Speaker, Sir, we introduced Interim Rental Housing (IRH) in January 2009 to help citizen families in financial hardship with temporary accommodation while they worked out more permanent housing solutions. On average, a family stays in IRH for about six months.

Many of these families face underlying socio-economic challenges, such as unemployment and relationship disputes with their families. As stable employment is key to improving their financial situation, the relevant social agencies are helping them in their effort to seek employment or upgrade their skills. Families facing relationship disputes are referred to Family Service Centres (FSCs) for counselling.

Transiting to permanent housing: families who have improved their financial situation will be assisted to move to home-ownership flats. Those who have resolved their family disputes can live with their families. For needy families that are unable to improve their financial situation despite best efforts and who have no family support, HDB will consider them for public rental flats.

To date, about 1,600 families are benefiting or have benefited from IRH. Of these, about 430 families have moved out of IRH into longer-term living arrangements, such as public rental flats, home-ownership flats or living with their family or relatives. Another 430 families will be moving to home-ownership flats when their new units are ready.