Initiative to help rough sleepers find co-tenants for rental flats among pilot projects given MSF funding
PILOT PROJECTS
One such initiative aimed at helping rough sleepers find more permanent housing is the Common Ground – Joint Singles Scheme (JSS) Matching Programme.
The scheme matches single rough sleepers who want to apply for a public rental flat with compatible co-tenants. This is intended to help them access housing more quickly while reducing the risk of shared living arrangements breaking down.
Dr Steven Tham, executive director of Good News Community Services, told CNA that the organisation held its first matching event last month, where rough sleepers could meet and get to know one another better.
Participants were given cards listing various behaviours and preferences, such as whether they were comfortable with sleeping late or loud music, and could indicate what they were willing or unwilling to accept in a potential co-tenant.
“These are what we call the non-negotiables. And at the same time, they can indicate the things that they don’t mind. For example, a bit of untidiness, visitation, watching movies or singing aloud,” he added.
This helped identify people with compatible living preferences and gave prospective co-tenants an opportunity to get to know each other before deciding whether to live together.
“That helps them feel a little bit more confident and they will be willing to stay together,” Dr Tham said.
“It is much better than randomly going to somebody … Because you have established some common ground for them to start off.”
The Joint Singles Scheme (JSS) allows two singles to jointly rent a flat together. The JSS Operator-Run pilot allows singles to apply for a rental flat without first having to find a flatmate.
Tenants will be assigned flatmates by a social service agency, taking into consideration each tenant’s profile, preferences and living habits.
According to MSF’s report in January, over half of the respondents – 58 per cent – were aware of the launch of new public rental housing schemes such as the JSS Operator-Run pilot.
When asked whether they had applied or would be keen to apply for these schemes, only 39 per cent said they were willing to.
MSF said in the report that the new public rental housing models were well-received by some rough sleepers, but more could be done to raise awareness, given that many respondents were unaware or unwilling to consider these options.