Shared housing scheme may put children’s safety at risk

Source : Sunday Times – 2 Aug 2009

I refer to last Sunday’s article, ‘2 families under one rented roof’.

I think the Housing Board should be commended for having the interim rental housing scheme, which allows the down and out to maintain a roof over their heads.

However, I feel that having two families under one roof is not a good idea. The article states that measures have been put in place by the HDB to minimise conflicts between families.

But some points seem to have been overlooked. The married couples share a bedroom with their adolescent children. And the children have to share a home with an unrelated family.

Firstly, the children are put in a position where they may be vulnerable to sexual abuse.

Secondly, couples have to sacrifice their marital intimacy.

Families going through financial turmoil already undergo much hardship; more worries should not be added to their plate.

Veronique Galistan (Ms)