Young single mothers' adaptation towards transitional housing in Hong Kong

Abstract

This dissertation examines the HKSAR government's new housing policy, the Transitional Housing Scheme. Transitional Housing would like to target on those with urgent housing needs, including long public housing waiting applicants and people living in inadequate places, such as single parents, disabled person and ethnic minorities. This dissertation would like to focus on young single mothers. In-depth interviews were conducted with diverse stakeholders and secondhand resources were involved for data collection to determine the level of adaptation and space for improvement towards the policy at the time it has been run for a few years. This study demonstrates that Transitional Housing Scheme effectively solves young single mothers' problems. At the same time, dissatisfaction is expressed if transitional housing is operated in co-living mode. The result found with young single mothers and other resources indicates positive adaptation towards Transitional Housing in Hong Kong. To improve households' living experience, independent living projects should include the elements of co-living and project designer should consider more about the related facilities which should be comprehensive enough for living.