HONG KONG, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Hong Kong Council of Social Service on Tuesday launched a pilot flat-share scheme aimed at enabling non-governmental organizations (NGO) to run hundreds of cheap temporary homes to rent to needy individuals and families, according to local media.
The council, a federation of non-government social service agencies of Hong Kong, said that 26 landlords have already agreed to contribute a total of 332 units under the Community Housing Movement, Radio Television Hong Kong reported.
During a three-year project period, the council aims to solicit a total of 500 units to be shared by some 1,000 families.
Council chairman Bernard Chan said at the launching ceremony Tuesday that they aim to provide "a new option of affordable and decent housing" for the grassroots.
Eligible applicants will be those proven to be in need of transitional housing, such as low-income families who have been waiting for public housing units for more than three years. The rent will be less than one-fourth of the tenants' household income.
Under the scheme, the council will act as an intermediary to solicit the flats and sublet them to NGOs for operation. The Community Chest, a charity in Hong Kong, has allocated 50 million HK dollars (about 6.41 million U.S. dollars) to fund the project. (1 U.S. dollar equals 7.8 HK dollars)
