The Housing Bureau announced today the launch of a trial scheme to assist Light Public Housing (LPH) households in adapting to new neighbourhoods more quickly.

“The Trial Scheme on Special Allowance for Households of Light Public Housing” provides a one-off special allowance aimed at alleviating pressure on LPH households arising from expenditures incurred during relocation and in adapting to a new living environment. There are no restrictions on how the allowance is used, so as to allow households to meet their own needs in a flexible manner.

The trial scheme will last for two years and is targeted at households who have successfully applied for and moved in to any of the first eight LPH projects to be completed.

These are at Yau Pok Road in Yuen Long; Choi Hing Road in Ngau Tau Kok; Area 3A, Tsing Fuk Lane in Tuen Mun; Olympic Avenue in Kai Tak; Sheung On Street in Chai Wan; the Mission Covenant Church Holm Glad No. 2 Primary School in Kwun Tong; the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Ma Kam Chan Memorial Primary School (Choi Yuen Annex) in Sheung Shui; and the former St. Joseph's Anglo-Chinese School in Kowloon Bay.

The amount of each allowance depends on the number of family members living together in the household and the location of the LPH. The payments will range from $1,900 to $12,550.

Households which have submitted applications for LPH may, upon acceptance of an offer and after passing the eligibility verification, apply for the scheme through the their LPH operator.

Households will be required to reside in their unit for at least one year after they receive the allowance. Those who have benefited from the Trial Scheme on Special Allowance for Households of Transitional Housing will not be granted this special allowance.

Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho said the bureau has successfully applied to the Commission on Poverty for funding of $89.88 million from the Community Care Fund to establish the scheme, adding that as many as 21,000 households will benefit from it.

The bureau will consider applying to the commission for an extension of the scheme to cover the remaining LPH projects in due course, she added.

Details of the trial scheme will be available on the LPH website. Call 3464 0811 or email lphtssa@hb.gov.hk for enquiries.