The Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) has begun vetting a new round of applications for the government’s seniors’ rental housing – and IAS President Wilson Hon Wai told reporters yesterday that the number of applications for the new phase stood at 483 when the application period closed last Friday, involving 600 senior citizens, expecting that the total number of households will reach about 900, an increase of about 300 compared to the previous phase.
Located on Rua das Coniferas (松柏街), the government’s high-rise rental housing for senior citizens officially commenced service in mid-October last year, offering more than 1,500 residential flats in the first phase. Between November 6 and December 31, 2023, the government accepted 1,500 applications for the first phase of the project, with the first 759 flats having been allocated to eligible applicants in the fourth quarter. The new round of applications closed on Friday, with the bureau saying that between January 1 last year and February 10 this year it has received a total of 440 applications for the seniors’ rental housing units.
“... we have learnt from the moving-in experience in October last year, making various detailed arrangements to ensure the safety of the elderly, including the rollout of relevant fire drills and other improvement measures,” said Hon, according to whom, in terms of safety work, his bureau conducted an on-site fire drill last month in conjunction with the building’s property management company and the residents, in the hope that the property management company would take into account the needs of the specific environment.
Hon said the vetting of the new phase of applications was expected to be completed within the next month, “as it is necessary to sign a contract with each household and make specific arrangements”, adding that arrangements for moving into the flats were expected to start around March: “Based on the experience gained last time, we are confident that we can complete the project expeditiously so that prospective elders can choose their flats and move in as soon as possible”.
Regarding the odour problem along Avenida Norte do Hipódromo (馬場北大馬路) in Areia Preta as raised by residents of the seniors’ rental housing a month ago, Hon indicated that the bureau has not received any further feedback on the issue recently. However, he was quick to underline that if any residents had concerns about their rooms or wished to change their flats, “we would try our best to accommodate their requests”.
Hon went on to say that the bureau has made sufficient preparations and taken follow-up actions in anticipation of the possibility that some residents may wish to increase the number of household members due to personal reasons or special family factors. He highlighted the importance of ensuring the provision of appropriate services, noting that “such cases are rare”.
Each of the studio-like units can house a maximum of two dwellers – a couple, relatives or friends.
Hon made the remarks when speaking to reporters on the sidelines of yesterday’s luncheon for social service workers at Macau Fisherman’s Wharf.
In his speech, Hon briefed the luncheon attendees about the bureau’s priorities in social services, including establishing a comprehensive elderly care system, enhancing efforts to identify hidden elderly individuals in the community, following up on arrangements for admission to government flats for the elderly, and improving the living environment of these flats. His also emphasised the importance of deepening family education, fostering a social atmosphere that supports family building and encourages childbearing, and setting the direction for a 10-year action plan on elderly and rehabilitation services for the period from 2026 to 2035. Additionally, he highlighted the commitment to safeguarding the rights and well-being of local women and promoting a healthy lifestyle among young locals, as well as establishing a “Macau-model” of community correctional services, among other initiatives.
Meanwhile, applications for the first phase of financial assistance under the bureau’s Community Inclusion and Harmony Programme closed yesterday. Hon noted that each year, more than 5,000 families—including single-parent households, persons with disabilities, and chronically ill patients—apply for the programme, benefiting over 11,000 individuals. However, he was quick to add that the number of families applying for social assistance has been declining in recent years, analysing the trend as an indication that many families have been lifting themselves out of poverty as a result of their children being well educated and self-sufficient.
According to Hon, the criteria for granting social assistance are based on changes in the Global Health Security Index, while also considering the specific circumstances of individual families. For families who have moved away from Macau, such as to the Guangdong-Macau In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, they may apply for social assistance if they face special circumstances, after which an assessment will be conducted.
Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) President Wilson Hon Wai addresses yesterday’s luncheon for social workers at Macau Fisherman’s Wharf. – Photo: Yuki Lei
