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Single unwed parents below 35 will benefit from this recent amendment in parliament. Photo credit - CityTv
Housing is arguably the most fundamental practical issue that unwed mothers must deal with as currently, single unwed parents aged 35 and above are only allowed to purchase a 2-room Flexi flat in a non-mature estate, or a resale flat if eligible.
In September last year, Member of Parliament Louis Ng raised the issue in parliament that despite the Government’s efforts to be more inclusive, it has not completely resolved the housing needs of single unwed parents, especially those under the age of 35.
Unwed mothers face a double disadvantage: They single-handedly bear not only the typical burden of motherhood, but also the stigma and tribulations of being unmarried in a society that encourages a mainstream definition of parenthood (i.e. within marriage). Single parenthood also sees one person take on an incredibly heavy responsibility meant for two.
In September last year, Member of Parliament Louis Ng raised the issue in parliament that despite the Government’s efforts to be more inclusive, it has not completely resolved the housing needs of single unwed parents, especially those under the age of 35.
Unwed mothers face a double disadvantage: They single-handedly bear not only the typical burden of motherhood, but also the stigma and tribulations of being unmarried in a society that encourages a mainstream definition of parenthood (i.e. within marriage). Single parenthood also sees one person take on an incredibly heavy responsibility meant for two.
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The Ministry of National Development has announced on Wednesday (4 Mar 2020) that single, unwed parents over the age of 21 can now also buy a 3-room flat in a non-mature estate from HDB, compared to a 2-room flat previously. The government realised it’s a national imperative to give every child a head start in life, whether with affordable quality childcare, education or otherwise. Stable housing should surely be part of that social compact.These moves are encouraging. Yet more can and should be done to improve housing access, arguably the most fundamental practical issue that unwed mothers and their children face.
This is a cumulation of effort by MPs, activists, social workers and single parents themselves who were instrumental in moving Singapore toward greater compassion for unwed mothers. Unreliable housing seriously undermines a mother’s ability to stay employed, to protect her children from abuse, and to have the time and space to plan for her family’s future.
This is a cumulation of effort by MPs, activists, social workers and single parents themselves who were instrumental in moving Singapore toward greater compassion for unwed mothers. Unreliable housing seriously undermines a mother’s ability to stay employed, to protect her children from abuse, and to have the time and space to plan for her family’s future.
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Now, HDB will accept applications from all unwed parents for up to a 3-room flat, in addition to resale flats – will certainly ameliorate the situation for those who can afford such flats. However, HDB policy still does not allow unwed, single parents and their children to count as a “family nucleus”, which would make them eligible for flats and housing grants under the Families Grant scheme.
The struggle for a life free from discrimination and social stigma is far from over for these mothers. There is still much work to create a roadmap towards housing equality for all mothers so that an unwed mother and her children would count as a family nucleus, enabling them to apply for public housing under the Families Scheme. We hope that in future, unwed parents, whether the children end up with the father or mother, would have access to housing as a matter of policy and not on a case-by-case basis. There would be a separate scheme for those under the age of 35 to apply for 2- or 3-room flats (similar to the existing Orphans or Joint Singles Scheme). - CNA Commentary Article Online
The struggle for a life free from discrimination and social stigma is far from over for these mothers. There is still much work to create a roadmap towards housing equality for all mothers so that an unwed mother and her children would count as a family nucleus, enabling them to apply for public housing under the Families Scheme. We hope that in future, unwed parents, whether the children end up with the father or mother, would have access to housing as a matter of policy and not on a case-by-case basis. There would be a separate scheme for those under the age of 35 to apply for 2- or 3-room flats (similar to the existing Orphans or Joint Singles Scheme). - CNA Commentary Article Online
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