In a bid to improve the living conditions of grass-roots households and foster social cohesion and harmony, the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council (the Welfare Council) has launched the Good Homes—a shared housing project in To Kwa Wan—to respond to the visions of coresidence, co-management and co-living. In the afternoon of 9th June, the Welfare Council organised the first clean-up day at the Good Homes to promote the spirit of mutual help in the community, encouraging households to get their hands dirty to clean up their homes with the assistance of volunteers from the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors and the Council.
In spite of the very hot weather, participating households and volunteers demonstrated strong passion in the clean-up activity. After posing for a group photo, more than 50 households and volunteers started right away to sweep the floor, wash the stairs and clear the junk. Some households also took their kids to this special parent-child activity. Parents taught them household tips and remind them to love their living environment during the activity.
Many doubt the feasibility of co-living but residents of the Good Homes, Fong (false name) and Yan (false name), shared the advantages of co-living spaces. Ms Louisa Lee, Assistant Director of the Welfare Council, told that the Good Homes project aimed at promoting the visions of coresidence, co-management and co-living. Apart from improving the living standard of those in need, through co-living, they also want to foster better relationships within the community and encourage a sense of shared responsibility for co-living spaces, as demonstrated by the event. The Welfare Council might hold similar activities in the days ahead so as to strengthen neighbourhood relationship.
As one of the operators of the Community Housing Movement launched by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS), the Welfare Council has rolled out the Good Homes—a co-living project in To Kwa Wan. Good Homes is considered to be the most sizeable project with the largest number of units, compared with other projects under the Community Housing Movement. The project comprises 4 residential towers with 61 units at 68A-70C To Kwa Wan Road, which are provided by the Henderson Land Development Company Ltd and sponsored by the Community Chest.
To achieve the purpose of co-living, each unit at Good Homes will accommodate 2 households, which would likely provide two-year transitional housing to 122 eligible grass-roots households. Those who have been waiting for public housing for at least 3 years or living in poor conditions can submit applications for Good Homes. Units will be allocated to eligible applicants who fulfill the Public Rental Housing’s income and total asset limits after the Welfare Council’s assessment and approval.
The Welfare Council will also organise an open day for Good Homes at 7:30 to 9:30 pm on Friday (15th June) and 2:30 to 5:30 pm on Saturday (16th June) for viewing by the general public and social service staff. Interested persons can make an appointment with our staff in advance.
For enquiries on the open day or details of Good Homes, please contact us at 2769 0115.