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HOUSING
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Rent Assistance
Public housing tenants facing temporary financial hardship can apply for rent reduction under the Rent Assistance Scheme operated by the HA. The scheme was first introduced in September 1992 and was last revised in September 1996. In September 1996, the eligibility criteria for rent assistance were relaxed to benefit more low-income households. A public rental housing household whose income is below 50 per cent of the Waiting List Income Limit, or whose income is between 50 and 60 per cent of the Waiting List Income Limit and whose rent-to-income ratio exceeds 15 per cent, or whose rent-to-income ratio exceeds 25 per cent, is eligible for assistance. If eligible, the rent payable is reduced by half for a maximum of two years. Up to November 1997, 2 981 families benefited from the Rent Assistance Scheme.
Allocation
In 1997, 19 900 new flats and 18 110 refurbished flats were let to the various categories of eligible applicants. Some 12 300 flats (34 per cent) went to waiting list applicants. Applications are considered in the order of their registration and in accordance with their choice of district. Public rental flats are allocated to those who meet eligibility criteria including Waiting List Income Limits, a no domestic property rule and a residency requirement. At the end of the year, there were 149 672 applications on the General Waiting List, including 21 744 applications from single persons.
Large proportions of flats were also allocated to tenants affected by the Comprehensive Redevelopment Programme (33 per cent), and families affected by development clearances (16 per cent). The remainder of the flats were allocated to junior civil servants, victims of fires and natural disasters, occupants of huts and other structures in dangerous locations, and compassionate cases recommended by the Social Welfare Department.
Housing for the Elderly
Elderly persons are accorded priority in the allocation of public rental flats under various priority schemes. Elderly persons can join their younger generation to apply for public rental flats under the Families with Elderly Persons Priority Scheme (allocation will normally be advanced by three years). Those who prefer to live by themselves can apply for public rental housing flats under the Single Elderly Persons Priority Scheme (allocation will normally be made within two years for elderly people applying for Housing for Senior Citizen units) or the Elderly Persons Priority Scheme (allocation will normally be made within two years). Young families who wish to apply together with elderly dependants for two separate flats in the same block in new towns may join the Special Scheme for Families with Elderly Persons (allocation will normally be advanced by one year). So far, over 34 500 elderly people have benefited from these schemes. New housing for the elderly will continue to be built on small urban sites over the next few years. The government has also invited the Housing Society to undertake a pilot 'Senior Citizen Residence Scheme' comprising 500 flats to be completed by 2001. The flats will be leased to elderly people in the middle income group to give them access to affordable, purpose-built accommodation with integrated care services.
The Housing Authority has established five Housing Information Centres, namely in Yau Ma Tei, Tsuen Wan, Wan Chai, Hung Hom and Sham Shui Po. In addition