Comments on: HDB’s inflexible policies will result in more homeless S’poreans

By: ASEAN Matters in Singapore – Event Report « Maruah Singapore

ASEAN Matters in Singapore – Event Report « Maruah Singapore — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 03:11:09 +0000

[...] Additionally, many homeless people are unaware of where the shelters are. The homeless shelters have long waiting lists as well. So the pressing challenge is for the government to move from an economic pragmatic approach to a rights-based approach. (Read more here.) [...]

By: MeToo

MeToo — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 11:32:51 +0000

Same here. After I divorce, we were forced to sell our flat and due to bank loan, didn’t get back enough cash for me to buy a resale now. I am forced to rent a room with my kid. I tried to apply for BTO from HDB 3 times, but each time failed. When I wrote in to appeal after the 3rd time, the officer told me that 95% of the new flats are reserved for 1st timer, and advised me to get resale instead, even when I told him I couldn’t afford the high COV cash for resale. I think my kid and I are in need of a roof more than majority of the 1st timers.

By: radicalchangenow

radicalchangenow — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 16:48:34 +0000

My good friend with housing predicament told me that HDB offered her a “final offer” to downsize to a smaller flat but subjected to availabilty and ethnic quota. Fine with her except that her desired flat & locations are no longer available so she and her family has no choice but to buy a 2 room balanced HDB BTO flat at double its selling price during which earlier successful applicants got theirs at 1/2 price cheaper and worst of all made to sign agreement can’t sell flat before 5 yrs compared to others 3 yrs. Double standards by HDB so those who has suffered pls make a vote for a change!

By: cant live properly in singapore

cant live properly in singapore — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 15:17:50 +0000

hi thank you very much for the articles and your great work at reporting and discussing the many issues.

i am also a victim of the poor housing policies of the government.

single above 36 but still not able to afford my own place.

this causes a vicious cycle.

i dont live well and sleep in the living room. no proper place for things.
this affects my work life as i work very hard at work trying to get more money but because of the anxiety in life, i dont do well in the office politics. i am just seen as the go-to guy for fixing things, ever helpful and easy to take advantage of.

i am tired of not being able to dig myself out of poverty. and cant even convince ex gf i like to marry me because i am still not able to afford my own flat.

By: radicalchangenow

radicalchangenow — Sat, 01 May 2010 15:54:08 +0000

As I read thru various politically-linked websites I realized that in actual fact, many PAP ministers bungled, some very major but most surprisingly, none was forced to quit immediately. Tharman the OSA breach, WKS of Mas Selamat saga, MBT of MND, George Yeo, the infamous Yeo Cheow Tong, the Holy Goh, etc. Ripping off multi-million bucks thru politics in today’s age is certainly not commendable. They may be able to abstain from corruption, but it’s their lower ranked subordinates that succumbed to corruption cos their pay is lower than these bunch of wild animals. LKY already had premonition of PAP can hold power in this 2 GE, we shall see greater wayang when new MPs who originated from the Philippines, PRC, Myanmar, etc cos some are real “fighters” whilst some may be bold and daring. Hahaha. I’m waiting for it to happen! All thanks to PAP themselves who coined the term “foreign talents” when it should be foreign workers.

By: ritchierich

ritchierich — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 12:16:18 +0000

after reading all these i can’t wait to cast my vote ! ! !

By: No lack of sophistry from the government concerning the homeless | Sgpolitics.net

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 10:55:25 +0000

[...] Even those families who qualify to apply for a HDB rental flat have to wait anywhere from 5.5 to 19 months before they are allocated a unit. In the meantime, they have no choice but to be homeless, because the PAP government has callously refused to provide ample social safety nets and temporary housing facilities for families who have fallen through the cracks. Families seeking help from their PAP MPs or from the HDB have to jump through hoops of thick bureaucracy and screening before they even have a chance of obtaining assistance. (See here and here.) [...]

By: Disappointed Citizen

Disappointed Citizen — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 15:51:28 +0000

Can the authority in -charge understand the miserable and worries from the lower income earners.
Base on the current economics, average earning of a Singaporeans $1800-$2500. For a yearly pay increment is usually $50 – $200. For the current purchase of resale flat is so expensive and cases like dirvorced people might not able to afford for a resale flat.
My personal case – I wanted to get a resale 3 room flat and apply for a loan from HDB. The resale market of 3 room is $240-$280 (valuation only) + COV (min $40K)
I apply for a HLE and approve amount only $123,000. My CPF is around $70K . It mean I need to top up $40-$80K to own a flat.
If I start to save for 3 years , it mean I need to save $2222 every month. However my income is only around $2500. How to save that sum of $? It really sound absurb…..
I am currently 38 yrs old and divorced . I transfer my share to my ex as a condition to get the divorce settled and only took back my CPF. During that period didn’t expect that I am not allow to apply for a new flat and have to get a resale flat . For so many years , I am still unable to buy a flat. Even if I apply a new flat, the hassel waiting like balloting, etc…this will also take 3-4 years.
It is so tough to stay under other’s people roof. You don’t know when you will get chase out of the house. Even now if I rent a place and I won’t be able to bring along my children unless I am renting the whole unit. However the rental had gone up to $1400-$1900 monthly even for a 3-rm flat.
Really don’t know how to pull this thru….

By: AO

AO — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 10:17:53 +0000

I believe the Gov can do better … I do not have good faith about MBT … when he was Transport Minister many years ago?? did he not created a mess? .. my view is SG is still running like a Corp with no heart for the ciitzen … without heart there is no loyalty.

By: {Video} AJE: Singapore policies force some onto streets « Jacob 69er

{Video} AJE: Singapore policies force some onto streets « Jacob 69er — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 15:28:47 +0000

[...] HDB’s inflexible policies will result in more homeless Singaporeans Comments RSS feed [...]

By: Disappointed Citizen

Disappointed Citizen — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:15:46 +0000

After reading this article, really feel sad as I am also facing the above problems. I think only the rich one can buy a resale flats as the COV are so high…. who can afford ?

Not able to afford a resale flat, not able to apply a new flat, not able to get a rental flat from HDB….. is it left with an answer… rent a home from the open market? After paying the expensive rental and what saving we have to buy a flat?

If an ordinary person have an average income of $1800 after deduction of CPF contribution, expensive rental & daily expenses… how much we have in our pocket…

By: FaceTheFact

FaceTheFact — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:41:46 +0000

Homeless 1, the rental of $1,400 for a 3 room flat is not cheap. I’m sure you are able to get the same or even lower rate from the open market than from EM service if location is not a must.
Btw, EM service just had their Dinner and Dinner few weeks ago at Swissotel, The Stamford. Is rare to see company having D&D nowadays, they must be doing very well.

By: Zefly (aka Joshua Chiang)

Zefly (aka Joshua Chiang) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:02:08 +0000

Homeless 1,
Do you want to email us at nohappycampers@gmail.com?
you can come to our facebook group also http://www.facebook.com/joshuafly?v=feed&story_fbid=384312223144#!/group.php?gid=243022663629&ref=ts

By: radicalnow

radicalnow — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:51:59 +0000

I truly empathize and sympathize with Homeless 1 in your predicament. Let’s all unite and make our presence felt thru wise voting. How many of us earn millions thru politics and not thru enterprises? Let’s hope that opposition parties will reveal their manifesto or agendas for us to consider voting them against the incumbent establishment.

By: Homeless1

Homeless1 — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:17:21 +0000

Yes I am one of the homeless family. I sold my flat 5 years ago, due to financial difficulty to repay housing loan, presently I am renting a 3 room flat with EM serv rental $1,400/month. I seek for MP and Hdb help and the answer is to wait. I had waited for 3 years already. I think I will be going to Sembawang beach soon.

Wondering why tear down all rental flats, built new flats(force to buy).
Why so many rental 3 room flat, handle by EM serv collect high rental for FT and singaporeans.

Waiting for miracle to arrive. I am loss to my ends. (Parents of two children).

By: aiyoyo

aiyoyo — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 07:59:53 +0000

aiyoyo,

can the elites try out the policies that they endorsed?

then ask them speak out their experience?

alamak, make policy must be able to work for all people ma,

rather than policy affect others but not the policy makers themself, blur leh

aiyoyo

By: TokOnlyCows

TokOnlyCows — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 03:15:55 +0000

now why would toc removed a legitimate post?( moderators are provoking the people)

people who have ithcing ears and talk about listening to the ground have constantly shown themselves to be hypocrites but wait, not only hypocrites but shameless hypocrites who present themselves for the cause of the…people???? which i am one of the people?

please TOC, start to REALLY listen to the ground and BE REAL before you write all your garbage!!!

**Moderating Editor: Apologies, there is an auto-filter which places some comments under pending status, which is why innocent comments sometimes get stopped unnecessarily.**

By: The Jackal

The Jackal — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:35:48 +0000

With more jobs even from government agencies being offered directly to foreigners, there will certainly be more families going homeless in due course. :(

Position of Asst Director / Associate, Insurance offered to foreigners by Monetary Authority of Singapore

http://job-search.jobstreet.com.sg/singapore/job-opening.php?location=70000&nationality=170&job-source=1&src=22

Fellow Singaporeans, is this the kind of life you want to go through ? The decision is yours. :(

By: 2whoincharge

2whoincharge — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 11:58:31 +0000

all thatloose talk, you sit in with CDC or not? never rite? what talk you?sit inside, write report and publish publicly. never get sued or publicly shamed by them, i say you smart lor you win lor.

By: whoincharge

whoincharge — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 11:11:30 +0000

[i]these should turn to CDC for help.

CDC or social services are in the best position to sieve out abusers/fakes/opportunists/bums etc etc. or determine their state of plight and address their individual or collective cases accordingly.

and critics who want to remain credible should sit in with CDC and conduct an indepth scrutiny of these cases before slamming the MBT from a superficial perspective.
[/i]

you sink songs in cdc karoaki or what?
right in front of my hdb castle is the new cdc affliated high class centre…
what does it actualLEE do? beside havin arrogant senoir staff who honked their carhorns just to have the automatic gates open for this so called cdc agents to park for free..
you think CDC crew will make you @ home offer you a listenin ears and a cup of tea?
dream on…
unless you want to bet your last finger with me i am all EAR/yours…
cdc? my blommin FOOT.. i, 1 kick they all scrammed liked hell….