18 District News
Written by: Zeng Fengting
2021-06-27 19:23
Last update date: 2021-06-27 20:18
According to a report by the Research Group on Subdivided Housing Rent Control in March, there are approximately 100,000 subdivided housing units in Hong Kong, and an estimated 226,000 residents are living.
The problem of poor sub-divided housing environment has always attracted much attention. Some organizations researched and surveyed citizens living in unsuitable housing, and found that up to 90% of the respondents had substandard mental health. They urged the government to improve their living environment and allow them to wait for public housing within three years. The citizens of the housing estate successfully went upstairs to solve the problem fundamentally.
The Caritas Community Development Service "Survey Report on Inappropriate Housing Affects Primary-level Physical and Mental Health" was conducted at the end of last year. The study found that as many as 90% of the respondents had failed mental health standards.
(Photo by Zeng Fengting)
The Caritas Community Development Service "Survey Report on the Physical and Mental Health of Inappropriate Homes Affecting the Grassroots" was conducted at the end of last year. A total of 527 valid questionnaires were received. The net rent (excluding utility bills) of most tenants ranged from $2,000 to $5,999, nearly seven. Cheng (68.2%) of households surveyed accounted for more than 30% of their overall income.
After the rent is deducted, the family can spend very little money each month, and families with 5 or more people can only spend $11,800.
Nearly half of unsuitable residential tenants live in places less than 100 square feet
The survey also found that as many as 90% of the interviewees have lived in unsuitable housing for a long time, making their mental health substandard, reflecting that the living environment is the main factor affecting them.
Nearly half (49%) of the respondents live in less than 100 square feet, and nearly three-and-a-half (34.5%) respondents are below the Housing Department's standard for per capita living space of public housing (76 feet), about 10% (10.6%) are overcrowded households below 60 feet.
In addition to the narrow space, the unsuitable living environment is also very harsh.
Nearly 60% (57.1%) of the interviewees claimed to live with all mosquito and rodent infestations, about 50% of the rental units did not have independent kitchens (0.7%) and elevators (48.1%), and 45% (45.4%) did not have enough units To stretch the space, 40% (42.9%) of the interviewees are often disturbed by noise outside the house, etc., and their living environment is not in line with the "appropriate" housing standard of the United Nations.
Under the epidemic, the ventilation and sanitation of the homes are of more concern. 36.8% of the respondents had peculiar smells in the bathroom vents, 22.8% did not have windows that could be opened frequently, and 17.1% did not have natural ventilation and ventilation in the bathroom. Air fans reveal that grassroots families need to face a greater risk of infectious diseases during the epidemic.
Physical and mental health is worse than in 2014/15
In the survey, Caritas used the "SF-12 Physical Health Score" and the "SF-12 Mental Health Score" to assess the physical and mental state of the respondents, and compared them with the survey data of the Department of Health in 2014/15. The results reflect the two The data of these persons are worse than that of the previous year.
More than 60% (60.3%) of the respondents had a physical health score of less than 50 (50 points or more reached the standard), which is nearly twice the difference from the previous 32.1%.
Psychologically, more than 90% of the respondents (93.6%) were below the standard, which was twice the previous 46.2%, showing that people living in unsuitable housing need urgent assistance.
At the same time, more than 90% of the respondents (97%) agreed to establish rent control and hope to implement it as soon as possible.
They hope that more factors need to be considered in the control, such as the regulation of the lease term, the rate of rent increase, the affordability of tenants (the ratio of rent to income) and the protection of tenant rights.
Mr. Li, who has lived in the sub-house for 8 years, described the sub-house environment as worse than the prison.
(Photo by Zeng Fengting)
Describe the sub-house environment is worse than prison
Mr. Li, who has lived in a sub-district for 8 years, said that a family of four was forced to live in a space of 100 feet, and the living environment was even worse than that of a prison.
Mr. Li, who lives on the 8th floor, has to go up and down the apartment every day by stairs. The situation is even worse during the rainy season. "The glass on the windows is rotten and difficult to clean. When it rains, the stairs are like waterfalls, which is dangerous."
Only one "bunk bed" and one storage cabinet can be stored in a small residence.
He also pointed out that the living space is like a "street grocery store," occupied by the daily necessities of four people.
The living environment is also overcrowded, so that none of Mr. Li's family can take a good rest, so that they do not have enough energy to cope with daily life, and the pressure is multiplied.
Kong Sheng, who has lived in a sub-house for 17 years, believes that the sub-house environment is "smoky and miserable."
(Photo by Zeng Fengting)
Another Kong Sheng, who has lived in a sub-house for 17 years, described the environment of his residence as "smoky and miserable."
He lives alone in a 49-foot unit. Since the unit is close to the middle, there is only a transom. However, he is afraid of mosquitoes and mice entering the unit, so he never dared to open the window and bring food in.
He recalled that once when he was sleeping, a "Xiao Qiang" flew to his face and scared him from his dream.
At this point, after he returned to the unit, he would seal the door with newspapers to prevent them from entering.
Huang Xiaohui, spokesperson for Caritas Community Development Services, pointed out that the government should adhere to the three-year housing policy target to help the grassroots leave their homes with harsh environments.
(Photo by Zeng Fengting)
Huang Xiaohui, spokesperson for Caritas Community Development Services, pointed out that the existing policies are not perfect.
If the policy is to be implemented next month, the pilot scheme of cash allowance will only benefit a small part (24.6%) of the respondents in this survey.
Except for those who have not applied for public housing, the main reason is that they are not eligible. For example, if they are not the elders alone and the frozen households of new arrivals, she hopes that the government will treat them equally and let them share the same as long as they are waiting for public housing. Allowance to benefit more people.
In addition, she believes that the government should abide by the three-year housing policy target, so that the grassroots can get a suitable home as soon as possible.
At the same time, she understands that the housing supply in Hong Kong is tight, so she suggested that the government should give priority to improving the sanitary conditions of some old buildings and adopt a "remedial" approach, such as ensuring proper gas replacement facilities in subdivided houses and three-no buildings ( Fans, exhaust fans, air-conditioners, etc.) to reduce the risk they will endure under the epidemic.
As for the mental health of residents, she suggested that a neighborhood network support team can be established to provide them with some activities and groups to relieve their pressure.
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