• About Us
    • Fact Checking Policy
    • Ownership & funding information
    • Volunteer
  • Subscribe
  • Letter submission
    • Submissions Policy
  • Contact Us
The Online Citizen Asia
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Singapore
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Politics
    • Civil Society
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Singapore
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Politics
    • Civil Society
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
No Result
View All Result
The Online Citizen Asia
No Result
View All Result

Netizens criticise Govt for not acknowledging how Joint Singles’ Scheme forces low-income singles to live with “complete strangers”

by Ghui
05/03/2021
in Housing, Parliament
Reading Time: 5 mins read
54
Netizens criticise Govt for not acknowledging how Joint Singles’ Scheme forces low-income singles to live with “complete strangers”

Speaking at the Committee of Supply debate for the Ministry of National Development (MND), Minister of State for National Development, Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim on Thursday (4 Mar) announced a series of measures to help support lower-income households in rental flats as the country continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.

Among the measures is piloting a new housing model later this year to allow singles to apply for public rental flats without first finding a flatmate as an “alternative” model of the existing Joint Singles Scheme (JSS), which only permits public rental flats to be rented out to two singles paired up as flatmates.

Under the JSS, single tenants are encouraged to apply to the HDB with someone they already know, such as a relative or friend. Alternatively, they can request for the HDB to allocate them a flatmate.

Despite the new pilot, Assoc Prof Faishal was of the opinion that most single tenants are still prepared to share their flats with a flatmate under the JSS, as living together “enables companionship and mutual support”, especially important for older tenants.

While “the majority” of JSS tenants are able to live amicably with their respective flatmates, there have been incidences where this has unfortunately not been the case, he said.

Assoc Prof Faishal went on to say that the JSS also helped to ensure that there are enough public rental flats in an environment of limited resources.

Nee Soon Member of Parliament (MP) Louis Ng said that the Government can do more to help flatmates who do not get along under the JSS.

Mr Ng pointed out that many of the singles were elderly and unable to find flatmates they knew, and therefore end up being housed with strangers that they may not get along with.

While he acknowledged that the HDB may not have an ample supply of flats to cater to every single who wanted to “rent a flat alone”, Mr Ng stressed the MND did allow a single person to rent a flat alone on “a case by case basis” and asked if the MND could “review the JSS”, as well as publish a set of “specific criteria” setting out the circumstances where a single could rent a flat alone.

PAP MP Chong Kee Hiong also spoke up for single tenants, acknowledging the “difficulties” that could arise when “flatmates did not get along”.

He urged MND and HDB to “do more to address this issue”.

Mr Chong noted that while tenants were grateful to have “a roof over their heads” and the “affordability” that was in line with their incomes, they were nevertheless under a lot of stress from living with people who may not “share their habits and lifestyles”.

Subsequently, Mr Chong urged the House to “be mindful that these were two strangers who had to stay together”.

Mr Chong queried whether the HDB had done any research or surveys on what the common issues raised were and whether they were able to resolve them and if not, he asked whether the MND would consider doing so.

Further, he suggested for the HDB to consider allowing applicants to “specify some perimeters” to indicate their criteria for “an ideal housemate” so that the HDB can use this criterion to match tenants.

Such criteria may cover whether a person did shift work and whether a person was a smoker, said Mr Chong.

He also queried whether HDB would consider “assigning dedicated councillors to assist the flatmates to familiarise themselves with each other in the first month of sharing the flat and giving advice at the early stage to prevent future problems”.

Lastly, Mr Chong asked if the HDB could set up a special task force to address conflicts and complaints between flatmates who would be empowered to mediate and make recommendations such as early termination of the lease.

PAP MP Lim Biow Chuan also said that “two singles who may be strangers to each other” who are required to “share a small space together” might prove to be a “stress point” for both parties, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He even raised examples of renters moving to sleep in the void decks just to avoid flatmates. Mr Lim urged for the HDB to allow “singles to rent a one-room HDB flat in exceptional circumstances” and to “show compassion”.

In response to Mr Ng, Mr Chong and Mr Lim’s speech, Assoc Prof Faishal replied that while he understood the concerns and were looking at ways to improve the JSS such as building internal doors to separate the sleeping areas.

In reply to Mr Lim’s follow-up question in relation to renters’ concerns on the partitions, given that they would still have to share common facilities such as toilets and kitchens, Assoc Prof Faishal said that the feedback had been positive and that the “majority” of renters under the JSS were “able to live together”.

Back in March last year, then-Jalan Besar GRC MP Lily Neo highlighted the problem of conflicts between co-tenants under the JSS, saying that some co-tenants had fallen into depression as a result of not getting along with their flatmates.

She further stated, “It is difficult for complete strangers compelled to stay together,” adding that many co-tenants end up living “miserably with frequent quarrels”.

Dr Neo also said that community mediation did not work for them due to many reasons.

Commenting on CNA‘s Facebook page, netizens criticised the Government for not acknowledging that the JSS system had not worked.

One netizen opined that the HDB was still “forcing people” to live together “because low-income singles cannot have it too good” and that the Government wanted “to punish them”.

Others highlighted their problems with getting a flat under the JSS saying that he had been “trying to apply” for a flat under the scheme for over two years and lamented that he had to pay S$10 at every launch despite not being successful.

One netizen said three of their applications for the scheme had failed.

Some netizens questioned why the Government was “still forcing people to live with strangers” when Singapore is not “a third world country that was totally broke”.

Others urged Assoc Prof Faishal to “put yourself in the two persons’ shoes to live with a total stranger” and said that it could be “like living in hell” if they did not get along.

For just US$7.50 a month, sign up as a subscriber on The Online Citizen Asia (and enjoy ads-free experience on our site) to support our mission to transform TOC into an alternative mainstream press.
Tags: Associate Professor FaishalHDBJoint Singles SchemeJSSMinister of State for National DevelopmentMuhammad Faishal IbrahimThe Housing Development Board

Related Posts

258 BTO flats and 168 resale flats returned to HDB due to non-fulfillment of Minimum Occupation Period
Housing

258 BTO flats and 168 resale flats returned to HDB due to non-fulfillment of Minimum Occupation Period

09/01/2023
HDB investigating cases of BTO flats put up for sale after left vacant for years
Housing

HDB investigating cases of BTO flats put up for sale after left vacant for years

22/12/2022
Leong Mun Wai says that land cost should be taken out of pricing of HDB flats
Housing

Leong Mun Wai says that land cost should be taken out of pricing of HDB flats

08/12/2022
Large swathe of land acquired from Singaporeans below $15psf in 70s and 80s
Singapore

Large swathe of land acquired from Singaporeans below $15psf in 70s and 80s

08/12/2022
HDB provides not so meaningful breakdown of development cost for its BTO projects
Singapore

HDB provides not so meaningful breakdown of development cost for its BTO projects

07/12/2022
Desmond Lee regards Permanent Residents owning HDB shophouses as non-foreign ownership
Politics

Desmond Lee regards Permanent Residents owning HDB shophouses as non-foreign ownership

01/12/2022
Subscribe
Connect withD
Login
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Notify of
Connect withD
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
54 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Latest posts

2024 Olympic torch relay to start in Marseille

2024 Olympic torch relay to start in Marseille

03/02/2023
India’s Adani shares plunge again after stock sale cancelled

India’s Adani denies rise due to Modi as shares fall again

03/02/2023
TotalEnergies says Adani exposure ‘limited’ at US$3.1 bn

TotalEnergies says Adani exposure ‘limited’ at US$3.1 bn

03/02/2023
India’s finance minister says markets ‘well regulated’ after Adani storm

India’s finance minister says markets ‘well regulated’ after Adani storm

03/02/2023
A man can be sentenced to death by a testimony of another, but CPIB finds it hard to prosecute with mountain of evidence and self-confession?

A man can be sentenced to death by a testimony of another, but CPIB finds it hard to prosecute with mountain of evidence and self-confession?

03/02/2023

Myanmar junta imposes tough new measures on resistance strongholds

03/02/2023
Malaysia High Court dismissed DPM Zahid’s application to get passport returned permanently

Malaysia High Court dismissed DPM Zahid’s application to get passport returned permanently

03/02/2023
Why is Gautam Adani’s Indian empire in turmoil?

Adani turmoil a key test for Modi’s India Inc

03/02/2023

Trending posts

Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

by Yee Loon
30/01/2023
25

...

Earning only S$400 a month, delivery-rider turned hawker threw in the towel after two years of running a rojak stall

Earning only S$400 a month, delivery-rider turned hawker threw in the towel after two years of running a rojak stall

by Yee Loon
26/01/2023
24

...

They have done a fine job of confusing us about the jobs situation

They have done a fine job of confusing us about the jobs situation

by Augustine Low
01/02/2023
41

...

Two Indian nationals paid about S$330 and S$730 respectively for forged certificates submitted in their S-Pass application

MOM found issuing EPs meant for foreign PMETs to PRC waitress and general worker

by Correspondent
26/01/2023
42

...

Singapore warns slower economic growth in 2023

Less than 1 in 10 jobs created in first three quarters of 2022 went to Singaporeans?

by Leong Szehian
28/01/2023
69

...

Excessively charging for an essential need, and calling it affordable because people still can pay for it?

by Terry Xu
31/01/2023
40

...

March 2021
M T W T F S S
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031  
« Feb   Apr »

The Online Citizen is a regional online publication based in Taiwan and formerly Singapore’s longest-running independent online media platform.

Navigation

  • Editorial
  • Commentaries
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Community

Support

  • Contact Us
  • Letter submission
  • Membership subscription

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Fact Checking Policy
  • Privacy Policy

© 2022 - 2023 The Online Citizen Asia

No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Civil Society
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
  • Politics
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Subscribers login

© 2022 - 2023 The Online Citizen Asia

wpDiscuz