Community Care Fund Subsidy for Low-income Persons who are Inadequately Housed Programme Brief

1. Objective

The Steering Committee on the Community Care Fund (CCF) endorsed to launch the assistance programme to provide a subsidy for low-income persons who are inadequately housed (the programme) to relieve their financial pressure. The programme is administered by the CCF Secretariat (the Secretariat), and community service units operated by 14 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) subvented by the Social Welfare Department (SWD) will assist in implementing the programme. The list of these units is at the Annex.

2. Eligibility Criteria

Target beneficiaries should meet all the following criteria when submitting an application1: (a) (i) Persons renting on a monthly basis (or for longer tenures) rooms/cubicles, cocklofts or bedspaces in private permanent housing2 (excluding those renting an entire self-contained unit or those renting sub-divisions of flat units with individual entrance door3); (ii) Persons renting bedspaces offered under the Home Affairs Department’s Singleton Hostel Programme; (iii) Persons residing in temporary housing4; or (iv) Homeless persons5; (b) The average monthly household income in the past 3 months6 shall not exceed the specified

1 The “application date” of the programme shall be the date the duly completed application form (together with copies of all the required documents) is submitted to the community service unit which assists in implementing the programme. 2 Including all private residential flats, villas/bungalows/modern village houses, simple stone structures/traditional village houses, staff quarters, and flats under the and the Tenants Purchase Scheme that are not bounded by alienation restrictions, but excluding industrial and commercial buildings. 3 i.e. Sub-divisions of flat units with an individual entrance door directly leading to common areas (such as common corridors, the lift lobby or the building’s staircases). 4 Including Temporary Housing Area units and private temporary housing such as roof-top structures, contractor’s matsheds, nissen huts, huts and places not intended for residential purpose (such as landings, staircases, corridors, etc.), but excluding vessels. 5 Homeless persons include: (a) Street sleepers; (b) Persons residing in the following temporary shelter/urban hostel for single persons operated by NGOs: (i) Caritas – Hung Hom Hostel; (ii) Street Sleepers’ Shelter Society Trustees Incorporated’s Shamshuipo Shelter, Yaumatei Shelter and Wanchai Shelter; (iii) The Salvation Army’s Yee On Hostel; (iv) Christian Concern for the Homeless Association’s Home of Abundant Grace, Home of Promise and Grace Hostel; (v) St. James’ Settlement’s Li Chit Street Single Persons Hostel; (vi) Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council’s Jockey Club Lok Fu Hostel for Single Persons; (vii) Pok Oi Hospital Jockey Club Hostel for Single Persons; (viii) Missionaries of Charity’s Home of Love; and (c) Persons residing in the Housing Department’s Po Tin Transit Centre, Tuen Mun and Lung Tin Transit Centre, Tai O. 6 The average monthly household income in the past 3 months refers to the average monthly household income of the 3 months prior to the submission of application (i.e. the average of the total monthly income of the applicant and household members residing with him/her), including earnings from employment and other income (i.e. including salary, double pay/leave pay, job allowance, bonus/commission/tips, fees for rendering services, profits from business/investment, alimony, contribution from relatives/friends, interests from fixed deposits, stock and shares, etc., rental income, monthly pension/widow’s and children’s compensation). Employee’s mandatory contribution to a Mandatory Provident Fund Scheme, payment under Government’s “Scheme $6,000”, financial assistance provided by Government, charitable donations and financial assistance from other assistance programmes of the CCF, etc. of the applicant and household members residing with him/her are however not included. When calculating the monthly household income, applicants can refer to the monthly average of the two irregular income items (i.e. double pay and bonus) accumulated over the respective period of time. 1 income limit applicable to the relevant household size below:

Household size (persons) Specified household income limit ($) 1 8,740 2 13,410 3 17,060 4 20,710 5 23,640 6 or above 26,590

(c) For persons renting rooms/cubicles, cocklofts or bedspaces in private permanent housing, the average monthly rent paid in the past 3 months7 shall not exceed the specified rental limit applicable to the relevant household size below:

Household size (persons) Specified household rental limit ($) 1 4,370 2 6,705 3 8,530 4 10,355 5 11,820 6 or above 13,295

(d) Not receiving Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA)8;

(e) Neither the applicant nor household members9 own any property in (including jointly owned properties); and

(f) Hong Kong Permanent Residents, or holders of Hong Kong Identity Card who do not belong to those who have entered Hong Kong not for the purpose of settlement, and/or those who have demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Immigration Department (ImmD) that they have the financial means to sustain their living in Hong Kong before issuance of visas/entry permits.10 11

7 Refers to the average monthly rent paid for the 3 months prior to the submission of application and according to the amount shown on the rental receipt. 8 In case some members of the applicant’s household are receiving CSSA, his/her application will still be processed. However, these persons should be excluded for the purpose of calculating the number of household members, income, rent and subsidy amount. 9 Household members refer to all persons residing with the applicant. 10 Persons who have entered Hong Kong not for the purpose of settlement, and/or those who have demonstrated to the satisfaction of the ImmD that they have the financial means to sustain their living in Hong Kong before issuance of visas/entry permits include:. (a) Persons admitted into Hong Kong under the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme and their dependants; (b) Persons admitted into Hong Kong under the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme and their dependants; (c) Persons admitted into Hong Kong for employment as imported workers under the Supplementary Labour Scheme; (d) Persons admitted into Hong Kong under the Working Holiday Scheme; (e) Foreign domestic helpers; (f) Visitors; or (g) Persons admitted under the following immigration policies/arrangements and their dependants: (i) Training; (ii) Study; (iii) Employment under the General Employment Policy; (iv) Investment under the General Employment Policy (i.e. to establish or to join in a business); (v) Employment under the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals; or (vi) Employment under the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates. 2 In addition, the beneficiaries of another CCF programme, “Subsidy for Elderly Tenants in Private Housing”, will not be eligible for subsidy under this programme12.

3. Submission of Documents

Duly completed application forms, together with copies of the following required documents, should be submitted13 to any community service unit which assists in implementing the programme and nearby the applicants’ residence during the period from 8 October 2012 to 8 April 2013. The homeless can submit their applications to the community service units for homeless persons (the list of community service units is at the Annex).

(a) Hong Kong Identity Card14 of the applicant and all household members (may choose to produce the original copies in person at the community service units);

(b) (If applicable) rental receipts for renting rooms/cubicles, cocklofts or bedspaces in buildings under the private permanent housing category (showing any of the applicant or household members as the tenant of the acommodation concerned and the monthly rent);

(c) (If applicable) documentary proof of living in the following hostels/shelters (e.g. the rental receipts or occupation certificates issued by the hostels/shelters): (i) The bedspaces under the Singleton Hostel Programme operated by the Home Affairs Department; (ii) Temporary shelter/urban hostel for single persons operated by NGOs (see Footnote 5); or (iii) Po Tin Transit Centre in Tuen Mun and Lung Tin Transit Centre in Tai O operated by the Housing Department;

(d) (For applicants who choose to receive the subsidy through direct payment into bank accounts) documentary proof of bank account (e.g. the relevant page of passbook showing the name of the account holder or bank statement of the bank account concerned15); and

(e) (For household members who are mentally incapacitated) supporting documents which prove that the household member concerned is mentally incapacitated (e.g. certificates issued by registered medical practitioners of Hong Kong).

4. Notes to Applicants

(a) Applications should be made on a “household” basis, yet there is no requirement on the relationship among the persons in a household.

(b) For households with more than one person, each household should nominate one eligible

11 In case some members of the applicant’s household fail to meet this criterion, his/her application will still be processed. However, these persons should be excluded for the purpose of calculating the number of household members, income, rent and subsidy amount. 12 In case some members of the applicant’s household are beneficiaries of the programme “Subsidy for Elderly Tenants in Private Housing”, his/her application will still be processed. However, these persons should be excluded for the purpose of calculating the subsidy amount. 13 Please do not submit applications by fax or by e-mail. 14 Or Birth Certificate (for those under the age of 11) or Certificate of Exemption (if applicable). 15 Copies of ATM cards cannot be accepted as documentary proof of bank account. 3 adult16 as the applicant. Other household members should sign on the application form to give consent for appointing the specified applicant to apply on their behalf. For household members who are under the age of 18, their parents/guardians (must be Hong Kong residents at the age of 18 or above) should make the declaration and sign on their behalf. For household members who are mentally incapacitated17, their relatives18 /agents19 (must be Hong Kong residents at the age of 18 or above) should make the declaration and sign on their behalf. Should the application be successful, the subsidy for all eligible members in the household will be disbursed to the specified applicant (e.g. the specified applicant of a two-person household will receive HK$6,000 of subsidy (see item 6(a) below)).

(c) Each household should submit only one application form to one community service unit which assists in implementing the programme. Duplicate submissions may delay the processing of application and disbursement of subsidy. Duplicate submissions will not be processed. The application form, once submitted, cannot be withdrawn except with valid reasons.

(d) Applicants are required to declare on the application form that the average monthly household income in the past 3 months does not exceed the specified income limit applicable to the relevant household size, but relevant documentary proof of income is not required.

(e) Applicants are required to declare that they and their household members are residing at the accommodations of a local address indicated in Part 1 of the application form on the application date and that the accommodations are under the coverage of the programme (see item 2(a) above).

(f) Applicants who rent rooms/cubicles, cocklofts or bedspaces in buildings under the private permanent housing category should note that: (i) Each rental receipt20 21 shall be used by one household only for application purpose. The rented accommodations shown on the rental receipt should be the same as the local

16 Adult means a person who has reached the age of 18 on the day when he/she submits the application. 17 For the purpose of this programme, a mentally incapacitated person refers to a person who is incapable of managing and administering his property and affairs by reason of mental incapacity. Specifically, mentally incapacitated persons may include persons with the following conditions (applicants are required to provide copies of supporting documents (such as medical certificates) when submitting an application): (a) mental illness; (b) arrested or incomplete development of mind, which amounts to a significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning, which is associated with abnormally aggressive or seriously irresponsible conduct; (c) psychopathic disorder (a persistent disorder or disability of personality (whether or not including significant impairment of intelligence) which results in abnormally aggressive or seriously irresponsible conduct on the part of the person concerned); (d) other disorder or disability of mind which does not amount to mental handicap (including Alzheimer's disease (dementia), vascular dementia, mixed-typed dementia, acquired brain injury, a stroke causing some cognitive deficits, Persistent Vegetative State, Comatose/semi-comatose); or (e) mentally handicapped (developmental delay). 18 For the purpose of this programme, “relatives” refers to: (a) spouses; (b) children or their spouses; (c) parents or parents-in-law; (d) siblings or their spouses; (e) grandparents or grandparents-in-law; (f) grandchildren or their spouses; (g) uncles or aunts; (h) nephews or nieces or their spouses; or (i) cousins or their spouses. 19 For the purpose of this programme, “agents” refers to legal guardians for those mentally incapacitated persons, or Court of First Instance appointees receiving payments for them, as appointed under the Mental Health Ordinance (Cap. 136). 20 Must show that the applicant or any of the household members is the tenant of the accommodation concerned and the monthly rent. 21 If there are more than one household in one accommodation, and these households rent part of the accommodation concerned and have their own rental receipts, they can submit application with their own rental receipts respectively. 4 address indicated in Part 1 of the application form. The applicants should declare that the average monthly rent of the accommodation in the past 3 months does not exceed the rental limit applicable to the relevant household size; (ii) Applicants who are unable to provide a rental receipt are required to make a self-declaration 22 that they and their household members are the tenants of the rooms/cubicles, cocklofts or bedspaces in the private permanent housing as indicated in the application form, and the reason for not being able to provide a rental receipt; (iii) The rented accommodation should not be a property owned by the father, mother, son, daughter 23 , husband or wife of the applicant and/or of any household members. Applicants and the household members should make a declaration on meeting this requirement.

(g) Applicants who are street sleepers should declare that they have been sleeping in the street for at least seven consecutive days on the application date.

(h) Applicants and their household members should declare that they do not own any property in Hong Kong.

(i) Applicants and their household members should declare that they do not belong to those who have entered Hong Kong not for the purpose of settlement, and/or those who have demonstrated to the satisfaction of the ImmD that they have adequate financial means to sustain their living in Hong Kong before they have been issued a visa/entry permit from the ImmD (applicable to non-Hong Kong Permanent Residents, see item 2(f) above).

(j) For eligible applicants under the age of 18, if the household members who are residing with him/her are not eligible for the programme (e.g. two-way exit permit holders), their parents/guardians who live apart (must be Hong Kong residents at the age of 18 or above) can submit the application on their behalf, and receive the subsidy for them when their eligibility under the programme have been confirmed (for special arrangements please contact the Secretariat at 2835 1158/2835 1188).

(k) For eligible applicants who are mentally incapacitated, if the household members who are residing with him/her are not eligible for the programme, their relatives/agents who live apart (must be Hong Kong residents at the age of 18 or above) can submit the application on their behalf, and receive the subsidy for them when their eligibility under the programme have been confirmed (for special arrangements please contact the Secretariat at 2835 1158/2835 1188).

5. Processing of Application

(a) The Secretariat and community service units will vet every application, including verifying the applicant’s eligibility and checking the supporting documents submitted by the applicant. They may contact the applicants regarding the information on the application forms. Applicants may be required to clarify or submit additional information.

(b) The Secretariat/community service units will conduct audit checks, including home visits/ visits (to ascertain the applicant’s type of accommodation) and income test, on selected applications in the course of processing of application or after the disbursement of subsidy.

(c) The Secretariat/community service units will issue a notification of result to applicants after vetting the applications concerned. Notifications to unsuccessful applicants will be sent by

22 Please contact the community service units for the self-declaration form in specified format. 23 including legally recognised adoptive parents/children and illegitimate children with proof of parentage. 5 registered mail (for applicants who are homeless persons, notifications will be delivered through the community service units). Applicants who disagree with the application results can seek a review in writing with justifications within 14 days after receiving the notifications (address: 4/F, Southorn Centre, 130 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong).

6. Disbursement of Subsidy

(a) The Secretariat will disburse a subsidy of HK$3,000 to eligible one-person households, HK$6,000 to eligible two-person households and HK$8,000 to eligible three-or-more-person households.

(b) For applicants who choose to receive the subsidy through direct payment into bank accounts, the subsidy (including that of the applicant and those received by the applicant for other eligible persons in the household) will be deposited directly into the bank accounts as specified in their application forms through autopay. The applicants must provide the account number of his/her local Hong Kong dollar sole-name savings/current account. Do not provide the account number of a joint account, credit card account, loan account, fixed deposit account, investment account or foreign currency account.

(c) For applicants who choose to collect the subsidy in the form of order cheques, they shall bring along their Hong Kong Identity Card24 and collect the cheques in person at the designated community service units within the specified period and time. The order cheque will be issued to an applicant after verification of his/her name and Hong Kong Identity Card number. If applicants fail to collect the cheques within the specified period and time without reasonable explanations, no subsidy will be given to them.

7. Enquiries

For details of the programme, please visit the CCF’s website (http://www.communitycarefund.hk) or call the programme hotlines at 2835 1158/2835 1188.

24 Or Certificates of Exemption (if applicable). 6 Community Care Fund Annex Subsidy for Low-income Persons who are Inadequately Housed List of Community Service Units which Assist in Implementing the Programme

Community Service Units Address Telephone (1) Central & Western Caritas - Hong Kong Mok Cheung Sui Kun G/F, 27 Pokfield Road, Kennedy Town, Hong Kong 2816 8044 Community Centre Caritas Community Centre - Caine Road 2/F, Caritas House, 2 Caine Road, Mid-level, Hong 2843 4652 Kong HKYWCA Kwun Lung Lau Community Work Shop 60, G/F, Block D, Kwun Lung Lau, Kennedy 2610 0769 Office Town, Hong Kong (2) Southern Caritas Community Centre – Aberdeen 2/F, 20 Tin Wan Street, Aberdeen, Hong Kong 2552 4211 Caritas Pokfulam Community Development Project 87, Pokfulam Village, Hong Kong 2550 6469 AKWASSC Community Centre 180B Aberdeen Main Road, Aberdeen, Hong Kong 3550 5540 (3) Wan Chai St. James' Settlement Wanchai Community Centre 7/F, 85 Stone Nullah Lane, Wan Chai, Hong Kong 2835 4368 (4) Islands Caritas Cheung Chau Sai Wan Community 2/F, 91 Self Help Care Village, Tsan Tuen Road, Sai 2981 1081 Development Project Wan, Cheung Chau HKYWCA Tai O Community Work Office Shop No. 1, Commercial Centre, Lung Tin Estate, 2985 5681 Tai O, Lantau Island, Hong Kong (5) Kowloon City Caritas Community Centre - Kowloon 1/F, 256A Prince Edward Road West, Kowloon 2339 3713 HKLSS Martha Boss Lutheran Community Centre 89 Chung Hau Street, Ho Man Tin, Kowloon 2199 9383 Group and Community Work Unit HKLSS Homantin Lutheran Family Support Networking Team Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council 3/F, Holy Trinity Bradbury Centre, 139 Ma Tau 2711 9229 Kowloon City Family Support Networking Team Chung Road, Kowloon (6) Kwun Tong Caritas Community Centre - Ngau Tau Kok 2/F, 1 On Tak Road, Ngau Tau Kok, Kowloon 2750 2727 CFSC Lei Yue Mun Neighbourhood Level Unit 99, On Lei Sai Chuen, Lei Yue Mun, Kowloon 2346 3680 Community Development Project NAAC Cha Kwo Ling Centre 121-123 Cha Kwo Ling Main Street, Kwun Tong, 2775 3050 Kowloon (7) NAAC Shamshuipo Family Support Networking No. 21, G/F, Pak Tin Commercial Centre, Pak Tin 2319 1234 Team Estate, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon Caritas Sham Shui Po Family Support Networking UG/F, Lai Po Garden, 383 Po On Road, Sham Shui 2729 1211 Team Po, Kowloon Salvation Army Sham Shui Po Family Support Unit 69, 2/F, Fuk Sing House, 63-69 Fuk Wing 2390 9361 Networking Team Street, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon Society for Community Organization Unit B, 1/F, Hon Tan Mansion, 149 Hoi Tan Street, 2725 3165 Sham Shui Po, Kowloon Christian Concern for the Homeless Association 2/F Cheong Wah Building, 203-211 Nam Cheong 2788 0670 (People Living in Poor Housing) Street, Shamshuipo, Kowloon (8) Yau Tsim Mong MKKFA Chan Hing Social Service Centre 45 Fuk Tsun Street, Tai Kok Tsui, Kowloon 2395 3107 (Integrated Community Service Division/ Family Support Networking Team) BOKSS Jordan Family Support and Service Centre Unit 401-404, 4/F., Rightful Centre, 11-12 Tak Hing 2377 3230 Street, Jordan, Kowloon 1 Community Service Units Address Telephone (9) North Caritas Lung Yeuk Tau Community Development G/F, 22C & 22D, San Uk Tsuen, Lung Yeuk Tau, 2669 0001 Project Fanling, New Territories HKLSS Shek Wu Lutheran Community G/F & 1/F, 81A, Fan Leng Lau, Fanling, New 2676 2613 Development Project Territories (10) Sai Kung Caritas Sai Kung Community Development Project G/F, No. 45 Kwong Fat House, Man Yee Fishermen 2792 5506 Estate, No. 140 Hong Kin Road, Tui Min Hoi, Sai Kung, New Territories (11) Salvation Army Sam Mun Tsai Community Unit 31, Chim Uk Village, Shuen Wan, Tai Po, New 2660 9890 Development Project Territories (12) Kwai Tsing Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Lady MacLehose 22 Wo Yi Hop Road, Kwai Chung, New Territories 2423 5265 Centre (13) Tsuen Wan Caritas Community Centre - Tsuen Wan G/F, 9 Shing Mun Road, Tsuen Wan, New 2493 9156 Territories Caritas Hon Man/Sham Tseng/Tsing Lung Tau Sham Tseng Youth Centre, 40 Sham Hong Road, 2491 7078 Community Development Project Sham Tseng, New Territories Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Lady MacLehose Lo Wai Public School, 137B Lo Wai Road, Tsuen 2492 9909 Centre – Lo Wai/San Tsuen /Fu Yung Shan Wan, New Territories Neighbourhood Level Community Development Project (14) Tuen Mun Yan Oi Tong Community Centre 5/F, YOT JC Community & Sports Centre, 18 Kai 2655 7562 Man Path, Tuen Mun, New Territories Yan Oi Tong Community Resource Development G/F, No. 256A Tuen Tsz Wai, Lam Tei, Tuen Mun, 2463 3958 Centre New Territories 2463 3934 Yan Oi Tong Caring Rural Community 2466 0695 Development Center Yan Oi Tong Tuen Tsz Wai / San Hing Tsuen/ Tsing Chuen Wai Rural Community Service Centre

(15) Caritas Hung Shui Kiu Community Development Shop B, G/F, Dor Fook Building, 7 Ying Fuk Street, 2478 2655 Project Hung Shui Kiu, Yuen Long, New Territories Caritas Yuen Long Rural Community Development G/F, Unit 152, Tsz Tong Tsuen, Kam Sheung Road, 2476 9693 Project Yuen Long, New Territories Salvation Army Ngau Tam Mei Community Kai Tak School, Wai Tsai Village, Ngau Tam Mei, 2482 7175 Development Project Yuen Long, New Territories NAAC Tuen Mun / Yuen Long Rural Village Centre Unit 1, G/F, Aster Court, 8 Hung Tai Road, Hung 2448 0880 Shui Kiu, New Territories (16) Community Service Units for Homeless Persons St. James' Settlement Integrated Services Team for Shop 1-3, G/F, Fortune Court, 10 Sai On Lane, 2975 8777 Street Sleepers Western District, Hong Kong Salvation Army Integrated Services Team for Street 2/F, 345A Shanghai Street, Yaumatei, Kowloon 2710 8911 Sleepers Society for Community Organization - Care and Unit B, 1/F, Hon Tan Mansion, 149 Hoi Tan Street, 2725 3165 Support Networking Team Sham Shui Po, Kowloon

Note : The applicants may also choose to deposit the duly completed application form together with the required documents at the drop box at the Public Enquiry Service Centre of Wong Tai Sin District Office (address : Room 201, 2/F, Lung Cheung Office Block, 138 Lung Cheung Road, Wong Tai Sin, Kowloon), for referring to the Community Care Fund Secretariat for follow up.

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