To encourage co-living and co-management and relieve the housing burden of some families while at the same time promoting neighbourly culture, the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council (Welfare Council) launched the Good Homes—a shared housing project in To Kwa Wan—last year and provided 60 shared units to those in need.
Subsequent to the clean-up activity held at the “Good Homes” in June 2018, the Welfare Council organised a sharing session cum Good Homes House Captains Recognition Ceremony in the afternoon on 6th January, 2019. The Council invited Mr Frank Chan, Secretary for Transport and Housing, Dr Raymond So, Under Secretary for Transport and Housing, Ms Bonnie Ngan, General Manager of Corporate Communications Department of Henderson Land Development Company Limited, Mr Charles Yang, BBS, JP, Admissions, Budgets and Allocations Committee Chairman of the Community Chest, Mrs Patricia Lau, Deputy Commissioner for Efficiency of Efficiency Office, Mr. Chua Hoi Wai, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS) and Dr Luk Che-chung, Steering Committee on Community Housing Movement, to join the representatives from the “Good Homes” project and Dr Jane Lee, Director of the Welfare Council, to enjoy a short video capturing residents’ fond memories at the “Good Homes” and interact with the house captains. Through the event, the Council hoped to recognise the house captains for their contributions, promote co-living, co-management as well as the spirit of mutual help in the community.
During the ceremony, the guests lit up the props in the backdrop to symbolize the project’s aims to relieve families with pressing housing needs and encourage co-living and co-management.
The organiser also invited Secretary Frank Chan to present commendation awards to the house captains, praising them for taking part in the management of the building. Not only did the house captains help clean the communal areas and facilities, they also assisted other neighbours to take precautionary measures during severe typhoon Mangkut, attaching the spirit of co-management.
In spite of their hectic life, Sister Han and Sister Ha, residents of the “Good Homes”, said it was worth sparing time to share the responsibilities of house captains as they could on the one hand help other neighbours, and on the other, make new friends through such meaningful work.
Secretary Frank Chan, guests and media representatives then visited Sister Ha’s family to inspect the living environment of “Good Homes” and learn the lives of residents. Secretary Frank Chan also gifted a fruit basket to the households on behalf of the guests. Sister Ha told that the living condition and quality of life have been greatly improved after moving to the “Good Homes”. She mentioned that residents and social workers would jointly organised varied activities for the households, such as interest classes, potluck parties and after-school classes, which helped expand her social circle and made her become more active and positive.
The Welfare Council’s “Good Homes” project is considered to be the most sizeable project with the largest number of units, compared with other projects under the Community Housing Movement launched by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS). 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. Currently, the Good Homes has an occupancy rate of 80%.
The “Good Homes” project comprises 4 residential towers with 60 units at 68A-70C To Kwa Wan Road, which are provided by the Henderson Land Development Company Ltd. and sponsored by the Community Chest. The project also received funding and assistance from Henderson Land Development Company Ltd and Hong Kong Construction Association for renovation.