More households qualify for CPF Housing Grant Scheme

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/295856/1/.html


More people will get to benefit from the subsidies that the government is giving out towards the needy. Those who are already under the subsidy will receive even more help. I believe that this change is very beneficial to those that are involved.

Singapore's economy is currently at one of its peak and most people are having economic prosperity. Despite all the economic wealth that most of the Singaporean population, we have no doubt agree that some of Singaporeans are still living in difficulty. Some people are homeless and do not have the ability to buy or rent a flat. They sleep in park benches, HDB void decks and some even public toilets. These homeless people have even brought their family along with them. This is a very serious problem as the homeless deserve better than what they are going through now.

Some of the homeless people here although know very clearly that there is help available provided to them such as grants as stated above and shelters, they are not willing to accept it. They believe that it is more independent of them to stand on their own two feet themselves. Some think that asking for help from others is a disgrace to their self-pride, that they are incapable of supporting themselves. This has caused a social stigma that has backfired against the help agencies.

However, I believe that this grant is to target those that need help but they are not able to get it or that the help given until now is simply not enough to support themselves. It is a worrying fact that most of the families needing support due to a low income are huge families, with many to support from a single breadwinner. The salaries are not enough to feed the whole family yet to even buy a flat for them to live in due to the expensive property prices in Singapore. There are also many that are in borderline cases of ability to receive help. They earn just enough to “escape” being recognised as the needy by the government. It is those people in this area who suffer the most. Not only are their burdens just as high, the family have to bear it themselves and work even harder. This will take a toll on everyone especially the children who need a good home and environment to learn and grow. Singapore is also an ageing society with increasing numbers of pensioners. They are not able to support themselves financially and have rejected help from their children. With the ageing population trend nowadays, there will be less employed people to financially support the retirees. Thus, the children’s burden of supporting their parents and will definitely help the governments’ help.

Thus, by just extending the reach of help given for Housing Grants in Singapore many more people will be benefited. It is also the correct time for the government to help the needy due to economic growth and the ability to charge higher taxes that will in turn benefit the poor.