Event launched to help LGBT Singaporeans facing housing crisis

An event in Singapore is huspLm$aSd43uQz7DL6M@1c=KIXjZA)n-XH!^Qe1jxHdy50qnKKoping to help LGBT Singaporeans struggling to find somewhere to live.

In Singapore, where gay sex is illegal, LGBT people X74zcGlZ&!^vXTo@e(z9N3N-!LZW3La6yGaR0-^N1^S73OlI6#are often pushed from family homes and do not qualify for government housing.

"Many in our LGBTQ+ community face difficulties moving out of our family home, or live authentically as their true selves” the Facebook event for Meet Your Next: Housemate says.

The event, organized by LGBT XgH4d%qyRhFOivpCp*su+Vc3C0WSV@h(9m-3FqBuNmeGc3%-9Capp Prout with real estate firm 99.co, will connect LGBT-friendly landlords, tenants, and people looking for housemates.

The event includes a Speed-Mating Cafe, to conne%Mq#^vAc67Lnhev8kGxqR+v@!oed-NeK1kUaA4t1)Sg^3ETsilct attendees with potential housemates.

"We hope that this event lets landloZGl0eahXKYFeAspr8DMPYrCRQqWJi$XaBr3^HT^ks*t@XQZoPZrds know that queer people do want safe spaces to live in and providing anti-discrimination clauses ensures that more people, not just queer people, would be interested to pick their home as the place they want to stay at" said Kyle Malinda-Whit of Prout.

Pushed out

According to Singapore’s 2016 National Youth Council Survey, 97% of unmarried young$0-RB(3V_r#@5K13zrTGr5qkeO-9-GDS_#QXFdgonxLizti-Kr people live with their parents.

But, conservativ*vIF#2Dr0tCb7sS(L5AMIDm5475Z*J*QNgFJ)vlbg3%719KdF2e attitudes centred on a heteronormative family can push LGBTI Singaporeans from their family home.

What’s more, while Singapo^=ChKy$iTkO6yoRhJ41BbAOPqZqn*5hewemn_7G)5WihTbbn)2re’s government provides generous subsidized housing, it effectively excludes LGBTI individuals.

Singapore currently has t$E*Q$CyFI&h)8O^ij9kH-PTv=rbl-V1jL=2oC_GRgthGl9SGk3he world’s second-highest rate of homeownership in the world. This is partly because of a generous government housing program.

The government allows young married heterosexual couples to apply for grants at the age of 21. But, toVhRj#Pg$7YA!%INtlGlE^MuuGvjo8FnZNCgmFfPUewrhZ(Uwkhe policy excludes LGBTI residents.

Only married he#rrb8EwQ3b=bizbYhbm^+qndOBf5=sr41zN(pU(DKZHT3mwH4)terosexual couples can easily buy a government-subsidized apartment.

LGBTI individuals — even couples Fja)e=5k1cRzCikwNvmP0ix2I06D*!LHi=2Rmt47k3cgi3WEJh— are only eligible for single person schemes at the age of 35.

"Queer couples ... have to work even harder to buy private housing, which can cost an average of S$700,000 and upwards per apartment."

Finally, without anti-discrimination lezNzFaTnGKoC&JEYeqML)aXs76NoXlzfjpYl#B-$OTNrG2K$a&3gislation to protect individuals in the private renting market, LGBTI tenants are at risk of abuse by homophobic or transphobic landlords.

"Finding a queer-accepting landlord is even tougher in a country where despite our multiculturalism, landlords still discriminate tenants based on race" Malinda-White said.

Organizers of the event, Prout, launched the app late last year.