Video: LGBT and other singles to get priority for BTO flats under new Family Care Scheme

[groyn88]

In a joint press release on Wednesday, 6 November 2024, the Ministry of National Development (MND) and the Housing and Development Board (HDB) said that from mid-2025, singles would get priority access when they applied for new Build-To-Order (BTO) flats to live with or near their parents.
Under the new Family Care Scheme (FCS) which would be rolled out in two phases, both married and single children would be allowed to apply for new flats near their parents. Currently, priority access was reserved for married couples and their parents.
The scheme, first announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong during his maiden National Day Rally speech in August, aimed to "strengthen intergenerational family support by promoting proximity living between parents and children", said Minister for National Development Desmond Lee at a community dialogue session on 6 November 2024.
MND and HDB said that in view of Singapore’s ageing population, the government understood that more ageing parents may increasingly rely on their children for caregiving and support.
Married couples and their parents could currently apply for a new flat under three priority schemes: the Married Child Priority Scheme (MCPS), Senior Priority Scheme (SPS), and Multi-Generation Priority Scheme (MGPS). The MCPS applied to married children, while the SPS covered seniors who were at least 55 years old and fulfilled the eligibility criteria to apply for a 2-room Flexi flat. Under the MGPS, eligible applicants could apply for two flats in the same BTO project.
With the FCS, the new scheme that would replace the three existing ones, priority access would be offered to all parents and their children (married or single) when they applied for a new flat to live with or near each other. The FCS was to be rolled out progressively from mid-2025 and would consist of two components.
1) FCS (Proximity), to be implemented in mid-2025, would allow parents and their children priority access if they were applying for a new flat to live with or near each other. This would replace the MCPS and SPS.
2) FCS (Joint Balloting), to be introduced in end-2025, would replace the MGPS and allow parents and their children to apply for two units in the same BTO project, where there were 2-room Flexi or 3-room flats.

Links:

https://the-singapore-lgbt-encyclopaedia.fandom.com/wiki/Public_housing_for_LGBT_Singaporeans
MND and HDB added that with the implementation of the new flat classification framework in October 2024, eligible first-timer singles could now apply for new 2-room Flexi flats across Standard, Plus and Prime projects in all locations. "This is a significant shift from before, where singles could only apply for new flats in non-mature estates," said MND and HDB. "Singles now have more options to choose from if they wish to buy a new flat to live near their parents, many of whom may currently be residing in older estates that were previously classified as mature estates." More details about the FCS would be revealed closer to its implementation date in mid-2025, said MND and HDB.

[ssssdude]

What a misleading title. Nowhere in the news was there mention of an LGBT context but you just have to slap it on anyway

[groyn88]

On 11/9/2024 at 10:06 AM, ssssdude said:

What a misleading title. Nowhere in the news was there mention of an LGBT context but you just have to slap it on anyway

My YouTube channel is a Singaporean LGBT one so all the posts are given an LGBT angle. In any case, "singles" has been the traditional euphemism used by the HDB to refer to this important demographic which they are reluctant to mention, even though we constitute possibly about 5% of the population.

Edited November 10, 2024 by groyn88

[Steve5380]

On 11/9/2024 at 7:59 PM, groyn88 said:

My YouTube channel is a Singaporean LGBT one so all the posts are given an LGBT angle. In any case, "singles" has been the traditional euphemism used by the HDB to refer to this important demographic which they are reluctant to mention, even though we constitute possibly about 5% of the population.

 

You are perfectly right.  To create benefits for "singles" is enough,  it does not need to be "LGBT singles".   In a similar way, it would be nice if your country extends marriage to all "singles", regardless of genders.  

[Sweetie Pie]

2 hours ago, Steve5380 said:

 

You are perfectly right.  To create benefits for "singles" is enough,  it does not need to be "LGBT singles".

That is not what @groyn88meant.  Most gay persons, unlike their married siblings, ended up needing to care for their elderly parents while longing for independence. Many LGBT people do not choose to be single (unlike straight single).  It is important to note that the new housing policy will greatly benefit gay, lesbian, and transgender people more than other STRAIGHT single people, who may subsequently get married to buy a bigger place.  As such, we need to mention "LGBT singles" as separate and crucial entity apart from "SINGLES".

Edited November 18, 2024 by Sweetie Pie

[Steve5380]

9 hours ago, Sweetie Pie said:

That is not what @groyn88meant.  Most gay persons, unlike their married siblings, ended up needing to care for their elderly parents while longing for independence. Many LGBT people do not choose to be single (unlike straight single).  It is important to note that the new housing policy will greatly benefit gay, lesbian, and transgender people more than other STRAIGHT single people, who may subsequently get married to buy a bigger place.  As such, we need to mention "LGBT singles" as separate and crucial entity apart from "SINGLES".

 

That is not what I meant about @groyn88's meaning. In his video, HE introduced the LGBT particular case in the "singles".  The law does not differentiate between gay and straight singles,  because sexual orientation is something private, not revealed by the letters "GAY" on our forehead, and not spelled out on our identity documents.

 

Take the case of marriage:  your country does not support same-sex marriage,  the participants have to be of opposite-sex.  But this not prevent a gay man and a lesbian woman to marry.

[Sweetie Pie]

10 hours ago, Steve5380 said:

 

The law does not differentiate between gay and straight singles,  because sexual orientation is something private,

 

What?????????????????  Silence and keeping "private" does not absolve the law of discrimination.   I am beginning to question whether you are the protestor against Gay Pride Parade in your country since your intention is to silence them on the grounds that sexual orientation is "private".   We might have a Trojan Horse here.

[Steve5380]

2 hours ago, Sweetie Pie said:

What?????????????????  Silence and keeping "private" does not absolve the law of discrimination.   I am beginning to question whether you are the protestor against Gay Pride Parade in your country since your intention is to silence them on the grounds that sexual orientation is "private".   We might have a Trojan Horse here.

 

I don't know if it is a Trojan Horse, or a poster with the mentality of a horse.  When you go to get your document of identity, I doubt that even in Singapore they will ask you if you are gay or straight.  Like they won't ask you if you are on a vegetarian or carnivore diet.  And since when to have things that are private stimulates discrimination ????