Forum: Address housing needs of vulnerable groups
W e are pleased that the Government is reviewing the age floor for singles buying Housing Board flats with a view to lowering it.
However, there remain those who, due to their life circumstances, find themselves ineligible or severely restricted from buying an HDB flat as singles.
This leaves them in precarious housing situations – often dependent on rental markets they cannot afford, or in temporary arrangements that hinder their ability to rebuild their lives.
Four groups merit urgent attention:
Unmarried single parents
Many are primary caregivers doing the heavy lifting of raising children alone, often with limited income and support. Yet because their children are considered 'illegitimate' under current rules, they cannot form a recognised family nucleus with them, making it harder to secure a home.
Transnational parents of children who are Singaporeans or permanent residents
These are foreigners who are widowed, divorced, or separated parents who are the caregivers of their children. Despite the children's right to grow up in Singapore, such parents can face significant obstacles in securing stable housing, leaving families in uncertainty.
Single survivors of domestic abuse
Leaving an abusive relationship is already an act of immense courage, but current housing rules can trap survivors in unsafe environments or force them into unstable arrangements that risk retraumatisation. Access to stable housing for this vulnerable group of people should be prioritised.
Young adults leaving residential care homes at 21
Unlike peers growing up with their parents, they lack the support, guidance, or safety net of a family home as they navigate adulthood. At this stage, many are financially precarious – still studying, serving national service, or working in jobs that do not pay very much.
HDB could provide the option of affordable rental housing for such young adults to share, giving them a stable starting point in life.
The existing eligibility rules for singles do not adequately account for exceptional circumstances where housing is a basic necessity, not a lifestyle choice.
We need clearly defined, compassionate exceptions in HDB policy that recognise these groups as urgent cases, allowing them to qualify for public housing regardless of age or marital status.
Such provisions would not only address immediate shelter needs, but also prevent downstream social costs.
Ensuring that these vulnerable individuals have a secure roof over their heads is a measure of our collective humanity.
Sugidha Nithiananthan
Director, Advocacy and Research
Association of Women for Action and Research
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