Annual Applications for HDB Rental Flats from Single Unwed Parents Below Age 21

41 Ms Poh Li San asked the Minister for National Development (a) in the past five years, how many applications to rent a flat from HDB have been received annually from single unwed parents who are under 21 years old; (b) what have been the outcomes of these applications; (c) what are the top reasons for their rejection; and (d) if such data is not being collected, whether the Ministry will start collecting it.

Mr Desmond Lee: All public rental housing applications, regardless of age and marital status, are assessed holistically and HDB will consider whether applicants have family support or alternative housing options. For single unwed parents below 21 years old who have insufficient finances and need a place to stay, HDB may consider them for public rental on a case-by-case basis if it is in their child's best interests, taking into account input from social workers if necessary.

From 2018 to August 2022, HDB received 58 requests for rental flats from single unwed parents below 21 years old. About 30% of these requests were successful (see Table 1).

The common reasons why requests were not successful included applicants having family members who can house them, or not providing the full information required for assessment.