Number of Single Unwed Parents Helped Via HDB's Website Dedicated to Addressing Their Common Housing Queries
Ministry of National DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the assistance provided to single unwed parents (SUPs) through HDB’s dedicated website section, as raised by Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang. Minister for National Development Desmond Lee stated that SUPs can buy new 3-room flats in non-mature estates, resale flats, or apply for public rental housing depending on their financial means. From September 2019 to June 2021, HDB approved requests from approximately 190 SUPs for new flats, 55 SUPs under age 35 for resale flats, and 380 SUPs for public rental. Of these, two-thirds of the new flat applicants were successful, while half of the resale applicants have already completed their property purchases. Minister for National Development Desmond Lee affirmed that HDB reviews every request holistically to render housing assistance in the best interest of the children.
Transcript
40 Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for National Development with regard to the new section in HDB's website dedicated to addressing common housing queries from single unwed parents (a) to date, how many single unwed parents has HDB helped; and (b) to date, how many of these single unwed parents have secured housing from HDB.
Mr Desmond Lee: In September 2019, HDB updated the HDB InfoWEB to explain how we support the housing needs of Single Unwed Parents (SUPs). SUPs who are in stable employment and can afford to buy a flat can buy up to a 3-room flat in the non-mature estates from HDB, or a resale flat on the open market. Those who cannot afford to buy a flat will be considered for public rental flats.
From September 2019 to June 2021:
(a) HDB approved requests from about 190 SUPs to apply for a new flat under HDB’s sales exercises, of whom about two-thirds were subsequently successful in their flat applications. Of the successful applicants, half of them have booked a flat, a quarter of them did not book a flat when they were invited to do so and the remaining are waiting for their flat booking appointment; and
(b) HDB approved requests from about 55 SUPs below the age of 35 to buy a resale flat, of whom half have completed their purchase.
In the same period, HDB also approved about 380 applications from SUPs to rent a flat under the Public Rental Scheme.
HDB will continue to review every request from SUPs holistically and render housing assistance to them in the best interest of their children.