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Young couples who are current or recent full-time students and/ or National Servicemen can apply for a new flat first and <a href="/buying-a-flat/bto-sbf-and-open-booking-of-flats/process-for-buying-a-new-flat/booking-of-flat?anchor=deferred-income">defer their income assessment</a> for the Enhanced CPF Housing Grant (EHG) and an HDB housing loan to just before key collection. These couples can also benefit from the <a href="/buying-a-flat/bto-sbf-and-open-booking-of-flats/process-for-buying-a-new-flat/sign-agreement-for-lease?anchor=sds">Staggered Downpayment Scheme</a> (SDS), which allows them to pay their initial downpayment in 2 instalments.
From the June 2024 Build-To-Order (BTO) sales exercise, HDB will provide further support to young couples looking to buy a new flat. For couples who are eligible to defer their income assessment, the downpayment payable at the signing of the Agreement for Lease will be reduced to 2.5% of the flat price, regardless of the financing option they choose. This will help to ease the initial cost that these young couples have to pay when they buy a flat.

Enhancement to the Staggered Downpayment Scheme for young couples eligible for deferred income assessment

The <a href="/renting-a-flat/parenthood-provisional-housing-scheme">Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS)</a> is a temporary housing option for families waiting for their new flats to be completed. 
To provide greater support for PPHS-eligible families to rent an HDB flat or bedroom in the open market while we ramp up the supply of PPHS flats, we will be providing a temporary rental voucher of $300 per month under the PPHS (Open Market) Voucher scheme, which will run for a 1-year period from July 2024.
To be eligible for the PPHS Voucher, families must meet the current PPHS criteria and have a rental tenancy registered with HDB at the point of application. Eligible families will receive the voucher on a reimbursement basis, based on the number of months of their tenancy that fall within the stipulated 1-year period.
Families renting from immediate family members or close relatives will not be eligible. More details will be shared closer to implementation.

PPHS (open market) voucher for families awaiting the completion of their new flat

HDB plans to launch about 19,600 BTO flats in 2024. We will develop a new housing area in Chencharu within Yishun town. We are also studying Gillman Barracks for potential housing development in the longer term.
Chencharu, in Yishun 
Around 10,000 homes are being planned in the new housing area at Chencharu, situated near Khatib MRT. At least 80% of these homes will be set aside for public housing. New recreational, community, and commercial facilities will be built to bring greater convenience to residents, while adding vibrancy to Yishun town. These will complement existing facilities at Khatib Central and HomeTeam NS Khatib. The first BTO project, comprising about 1,200 units of 2-room Flexi to 5-room flats, will be launched in June 2024, with the rest of the projects to be progressively launched in the coming years.
Gillman Barracks 
The Gillman Barracks site is located a short distance from the city centre and adjacent to the future Greater Southern Waterfront live-work-play district. Agencies are studying the possibility of introducing a new residential neighbourhood at this site, comprising a mix of private and public housing options, with public spaces and amenities. 
Environmental and heritage studies will commence in 2Q 2024 and are estimated to complete around 1H 2026. Findings from these studies will inform the detailed plans for the site and guide agencies in developing the site sensitively. Agencies will engage the relevant stakeholders, including existing tenants at Gillman Barracks. Existing tenants can continue to remain on site till the end of their tenancies. More details will be shared when ready.

New housing areas to meet housing demand

From 1 April 2024, we will offer a wider range of senior-friendly items under the EASE 2.0 programme. This includes bidet sprays, foldable U-profile grab bars, and lowering of toilet entrance kerbs.
As with the current EASE programme, the new improvement items under the EASE 2.0 programme will be heavily subsidised, with up to 95% of the cost borne by the Government. Flat owners can choose the improvement items that they need and pay from 5% to 12.5% of the cost, depending on their flat type.
From 1 April 2024, flat owners may apply or opt for the new improvement items when their flat undergoes HIP. For HIP precincts where works within the flats are on-going, eligible households can also opt for the new improvement items.
Eligible flat owners who require EASE before HIP commences, or whose blocks do not qualify for HIP, may apply directly to HDB for the new improvement items through the e-Service on <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://go.gov.sg/hdb-ease-esvc" target="_blank" title="HDB InfoWEB">HDB InfoWEB</a>.

Implementation of Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) 2.0

To better support low-income and vulnerable seniors who may not have family support, we will expand the provision of the wireless Alert Alarm System (AAS) to benefit around 26,800 more seniors living in about 170 rental blocks. Installation works are expected to commence from January 2025 and will take about 5 years to complete.
With the wireless AAS, seniors will be able to call for help during emergencies by pressing the alert buttons conveniently placed in their homes. Upon activation of the alert button, seniors will be connected to CareLine, a 24/7 hotline that responds to callers in distress, or nearby Active Ageing Centres (AACs).

Expansion of the wireless Alert Alarm System

We will also be extending the Neighbourhood Renewal Programme (NRP) to flats built up to 1999, with over 100,000 flats eligible for improvement works to their neighbourhood. The scope of improvement works will also be expanded to include more senior-friendly facilities and features to improve the social, mental, and physical well-being of seniors, and provide better support for seniors to age in place.
More information will be announced when ready.

Committee of Supply 2024