RENTAL FLATS FOR DIVORCED WOMEN

RENTAL FLATS FOR DIVORCED WOMEN

3.

Mdm Halimah Yacob asked the Minister for National Development (a) in 2008, how many women had applied for rental flats after their divorces; (b) how many were allocated the rental flats; and (c) whether HDB can be more flexible in the allocation of rental flats to divorced women with children who lose their homes after their divorces.

Mr Mah Bow Tan: HDB rental flats are heavily subsidised and are meant for those with no alternative housing options. There are eligibility criteria to ensure that only the truly needy are allocated public rental flats.

However, we recognise that there are households who are not eligible for a rental flat, but are unable to afford accommodation on their own. At the same time, their immediate family members are unable to help them. In such situations, HDB will exercise flexibility, taking into account the circumstances of the case.

In 2008, 649 divorced women with children had registered for rental flats. These include 28 for whom HDB waived the usual eligibility criteria. About 200 have already been allocated rental flats. However, owing to the limited number of rental flats, not all of them are due for allocation yet.

HDB will ensure that these households have accommodation while waiting for allocation. It will be good if they can stay with their families temporarily. For those who are unable to, HDB will refer them to its managing agent for interim rental housing (IRH). In situations where the family is in exceptional financial hardship and cannot afford IRH, HDB will exercise flexibility and consider granting them priority allocation of a rental flat.

Besides working with the family on a suitable housing solution, HDB will also refer them to the Family Service Centres for help, if necessary. This ensures that the family’s needs beyond housing are taken care of, especially for the children.