Oral Answer by Ministry of National Development on applications by single parents for public rental flats
Aug 5, 2019
Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang: To ask the Minister for National Development whether HDB will, deciding not just on a case-by-case basis and without receiving an appeal, allow a single parent and his/her child to get a HDB rental flat when the duo cannot afford alternative housing options and will otherwise have to share a bedroom with existing family members in the family members' home or stay in the living room because they have no spare rooms available.
Answer:
Single parents aged 21 and above who wish to apply for a rental flat from HDB with their child are treated similarly as other applicants for a public rental flat. All applicants may submit their application directly at HDB’s rental counters without having to appeal first.
HDB looks into all applications for a public rental flat to assess each individual’s housing options holistically. The applicants’ ability to afford alternative housing options, whether their family has space to accommodate them, as well as whether they face issues such as family conflict are all factors which HDB takes into consideration.
Applicants in the circumstances described by the Member will qualify for a public rental flat.