Housing subsidy now open for applications

The deadline is April 8, so be quick.

According to a release, applications already opened for the Community Care Fund assistance programme to provide a subsidy for low-income people who are inadequately housed.

The application deadline is April 8.

Speaking at a press briefing, the fund’s Executive Committee chairman Law Chi-kwong said: “The fund has set aside about $91 million for the programme to provide a one-off subsidy for low-income persons who are inadequately housed to relieve their financial pressure. The amount of subsidy is $3,000 for one-person households, $6,000 for two-person households, and a uniform $8,000 for three-or-more-person households. The programme is expected to benefit over 13,000 households, or nearly 30,000 persons."

Beneficiaries must be renting rooms, cubicles, cocklofts or bedspaces in private buildings, excluding industrial and commercial buildings, on a monthly basis or for longer tenures; renting bedspaces under the Home Affairs Department's Singleton Hostel Programme; residing in temporary housing; or, be homeless.

The average monthly household income of the applicants in the past three months must not exceed the specified income limit. They should neither be recipients of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance, nor own any property in Hong Kong.

For those renting rooms, cubicles, cocklofts or bedspaces in private buildings, their average monthly rent in the past three months should not exceed the specified rental limit.

The specified household income limit for a one-to-five-person household ranges from $8,740 to $23,640, while the specified household rental limit ranges from $4,370 to $11,820.

For a six-or-above-member household, the income and rental limits are $26,590 and $13,295.

Application forms for the programme are available at 42 community service units.

The fund’s secretariat and community service units will vet every application, and conduct visits to applicants, and income tests on selected applications.

The subsidy will be deposited into the applicants' bank accounts as specified or applicants can collect cheques at designated community service units.