Debated in Parliament on 10 Sep 2024.
Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for National Development with regard to HDB households lacking direct lift access (a) how is HDB addressing the accessibility needs of households that have approached them for assistance and what is the success rate of these efforts; (b) how is HDB helping residents beyond the Lift Housing Grant that requires them to leave their community support systems; and (c) what are HDB's plans to ensure inclusivity and accessibility for the elderly, pregnant women, those with young children and those with disabilities.
Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for National Development (a) for HDB flats ineligible for the Lift Upgrading Programme, whether the Ministry can provide an update on alternative engineering and technical solutions that have been explored to improve lift accessibility, including the duration and scale of the trials and reasons for their unsuitability; and (b) whether the Ministry will consider tapping on external or foreign consultants for these solutions.
The Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP) was introduced in 2001. Since then, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) has successfully implemented LUP in more than 5,000 blocks, which were originally built without direct lift access to every floor. Today, around 99% of all HDB blocks are either built with direct lift access or have benefitted from LUP.
There remains about 1% of blocks, comprising around 2,000 flats, which have not been offered LUP due to high costs or technical constraints. In some cases, the cost can be more than $200,000 per benefitting household.
HDB has explored numerous alternative lift technologies, including vertical platform lifts, pneumatic vacuum elevators, wheelchair stair lifts and portable equipment, such as stair climbers. However, they were assessed to be unfeasible for heavy residential use or unsafe to be operated independently by residents already facing mobility challenges. Furthermore, some of these solutions will also encroach into staircases and impede evacuation routes in the event of a fire.
HDB will continue to explore new technologies and adopt them, where feasible. In the meantime, residents who are in need of direct lift access due to medical conditions or mobility reasons can apply for the Lift Access Housing Grant (LHG) of up to $30,000 to help them buy another flat with direct lift access.
Since the implementation of LHG in 2020, HDB has received 60 complete applications. Of these, 49 applications were approved, while five are currently under evaluation. Some residents have used the LHG to purchase units available within the same neighbourhood, so that they can continue to enjoy the familiarity of their neighbourhood and community.
I would like to assure Members that HDB will continue to look into ways to make HDB estates and blocks more accessible, to help residents with mobility challenges, such as the elderly, pregnant women and persons with disabilities. I encourage households with accessibility needs to approach HDB to explore suitable options.
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