An event in Singapore is lyufVYsCoCFGGRKQ-=JfX(*#Dc5((_S=X5r#Uxj)ce3ItxO67vhoping 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 anx%[email protected]#!VQL1qCBF3^!Ht!vJfAl_ud 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 app Prout with real estate firm 99.co, will connect LGBT-friendly landlords, tenants, and people looking for housemD2_+4fHVX5tdsb8ET)C=58Q9xTtl&x8aCXkX-yvHDJM=EuEOkOates.
The event includes a Speed-Mating Cafe, to connect attendees with potentiGjh+=mP^1XFnVMNRo&q&!*)0B=3ToUIb#6ews!FB-0jM(72pm(al housemates.
"We hope that this event lets landlords know that queer people do want safe spaces to live in and providing anti-discrimination clauses ensures tha[email protected]@)tVTv0nULASG5Lit=CZXy%UV#iEAyu^mzt 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 SurvYxOwzy^6TkWMjGA0kvrAf+)W&c)^[email protected])#YWScjey, 97% of unmarried young people live with their parents.
But, conservative attitudes centred onzLNJbhc*s#7r)1GugEuEh_JV6Ok#h!w9&^u#U(1t$(b$xS8eS- a heteronormative family can push LGBTI Singaporeans from their family home.
What’s more, while Singapore’s government provides generous subsidized housirn*H*dIoZzqs6x+_fStR7rbCLBdVdcoOjGny#m(LX_Vut!X(uzng, it effectively excludes LGBTI individuals.
Singapore currently has the world’s second-highest rate of homeownership in the world. This is partly because of a generous government housinboHfce=apuT&PSwcz_+)YTtIt!yGm1ApaC7u_%#SQd)DiTDr8Ag program.
The government allows young married heteroseq)RfHPJxQtKzteQ32qOc$%3*fS95C6&M#[email protected]xual couples to apply for grants at the age of 21. But, the policy excludes LGBTI residents.
Only married heterosexual couples can easily buy a government-subsidxi8mrYTM3CFp&TR_T3DsoO_Bdm3jsrC8%(dwH+c_qOEX3mLo^tized apartment.
LGBTI individuals — even couples — are only eligsU^@j84e#Qy%X*hZUY^&d!em2_Khm)^Utw5Yl^thEq5LEkP7FQible 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$700,000 and upwards per apartment."
Finally, without anti-discrimination legislation to protect individuals ing=Ru$RFezVbeIRbM&RRVUwPU-Z$^eG$i&edsEa2!DFASH)8qdn 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.
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