Debated in Parliament on 26 Jul 2021.
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.
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.
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