Press Release

Housing Society Launches Community Care Campaign to Help the Needy Amid the Pandemic

In view of the enormous challenges brought by the fifth wave of the epidemic to many of the grassroots, the Hong Kong Housing Society (HKHS) announced another initiative, a Community Care Campaign, to offer timely support to its rental estate tenants and the people in need of anti-epidemic resources, financial support and mental health relief, aiming to stand shoulder to shoulder with the community in fighting the virus.  This comes soon after HKHS pledging HK$100 million for implementing rent relief measures to help its commercial tenants as announced earlier.

HKHS Chairman Walter Chan said, "Over the past month or so, the community is largely in deep water as their living, their jobs and financial conditions are severely impacted by the epidemic.  In this critical moment, the spirit of mutual support is the key to empower us to cope with these unprecedented difficulties."

Walter Chan continued, "As a socially responsible organisation, the Housing Society has planned a series of actions, including distributing 50,000 anti-epidemic packs for free, making donations to food banks, offering financial support to domestic tenants in need, creating short-term job opportunities, and mobilising volunteers to make caring calls to the elderly residents etc., to provide imminent support and assistance to the under-resourced families, frontline workers, the elderly and our staff as well.  The Housing Society is committed to walking in solidarity with the Hong Kong people during the time of adversity.  With the faith in overcoming the pandemic and the provision of our tangible and intangible support to the community, together we will prevail and be playing a part in contributing to the city’s winning over the epidemic".

HKHS has earmarked HK$12 million for the Community Care Campaign, with four major actions as follows:

1. Distributing 50,000 anti-epidemic packs for free – starting next week, the free anti-epidemic packs will be distributed to residents living in HKHS’s rental estates and elderly housing projects, its wet market tenants, frontline cleaning and security workers, site workers of HKHS’s projects and all HKHS staff.  Inside each anti-epidemic pack are rapid antigen test kits, HKHS face masks, hand sanitiser, vitamin C supplement.
2. Making donation to food banks and offering financial support to needy residents of rental estates – HKHS has donated HK$500,000 to four food banks and a charitable organisation, and has set aside no less than HK$500,000 to help its rental estate tenants living in dire straits.
3. Creating immediate short-term job opportunities – Helpers will be hired to assist with the distribution of the anti-epidemic packs and provide customer service in HKHS’s shopping malls and wet markets, etc., hoping to offer timely financial assistance to those unemployed.
4. Providing mental health support to the elderly and rental estate tenants – Formed by about 50 HS Academy Alumni Club members and HKHS staff members, a volunteer service team will send regards and anti-epidemic information to the elderly and the rental estate residents through making caring calls for three consecutive weeks.  HKHS will also partner with non-profit-making organisations to organise online classes on doing exercises at home and online sharing on stress relief.

In addition to the abovementioned actions, HKHS has previously announced the sixth round of rent relief measures for its eligible commercial tenants who will enjoy up to 75% rent concession for another six months until 30 September this year.