Event launched to help LGBT Singaporeans facing housing crisis

An event in Singapore is hopin%jpZHHPbonV23K)5z)TpevzsC^efNztgrIAd_WtKo3@^M2M*Ygg to help LGBT Singaporeans struggling to find somewhere to live.

In Singapore, where gay sex is illegal, LGBT people are often pushed from family homes and do not qualify for government housinT4^WR*QuRs7HPQ&)-fN^_kr++9%KVEZAUO(jUt=&$EL-BH+u^2g.

"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 app Prout with real estate firm 99.co, will connect LGBT-friendly landlords, tenants, a6v4wNM25af%B-D@stKjB9@Brz8zh7#jpdTA7PkAv$GXXH+KQ)1nd people looking for housemates.

The event includes a Speed-Mating Cafe, to connect attendelMf+x2-C&#-+A9X22Kc2trserTBiBlll%-tQHKJblE7zFG2NXees with potential housemates.

"We hope that this event lets landlords know that queer people do want safe spaces413IeIL7JkV$!vioS$atlSN0PY8phIhz$PEY8LZMMo^2hUIvPu 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 unmanbQjnL52odZn8Q%MVjdeBHane!(i4pd5D2N4e@wE5Q)DzBy+oXrried young people live with their parents.

But, conservative attitudes centred on a heteronormative family can push LGBTI Singaporeans fro=so7cB1rm+9xj3TwvLaCq0KnQYmjw)TdyVFTyL)cH@++uAmOESm their family home.

What’s more, while Singapore’s government provides generous subsidized housing, it effectively exclud8L=2)64zCx@l$n5Kx6vgKdAc@tNiuqtUyB$w8nkvZytcfMeH6Aes LGBTI individuals.

Singapore cuqMCQ@9gCzY@LK$#S6Ft9Y!gdX!*!3#1X@C6V9g1_vrq&BIZVJ*rrently has the world’s second-highest rate of homeownership in the world. This is partly because of a generous government housing program.

The government alJ1sN7-)y*haM$^^U)gsFGRB#Q=8Is392lUPItJsChg&3uW^Lm6lows young married heterosexual couples to apply for grants at the age of 21. But, the policy excludes LGBTI residents.

Only maJwKGsb29aE4QxAwzSK(kyg)dae*70#xUp+yETA%G=WGOTG7liWrried heterosexual couples can easily buy a government-subsidized apartment.

LGBTI individuals — even couples — are only eligible for single person schemes at (rmXy8gzH8XsrNYpupKXQ6iBNrz#v#pJU!)utj=#y(nqq_PLjFthe 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, JPBPi*0B+m5lVAqZMh@Ch1r)Jds%V#V6c2v2t0j693Sr)zB)(xwithout anti-discrimination legislation 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.