Help me and my family have a house of our own after 10 years.

Dear all fellow Singaporean,

I am 60 year old this year and my husband is 68 year old. We have two kids in their 20s.

20 years ago, my husband had to sell off our HDB flat to help his mum with her medical bills, we downgraded from 5 room to a 4 room flat.

However, things got worst from there.

My Husband was the sole breadwinner of the household earning $1200 per month as a delivery man. In order to provide a better life for the family, he turned to gambling. I would say that I hated him to guts during that few years as he would gamble all family expenses away. I would work part time helping others to sew their clothes only to have my hard earned money taken by him to gamble. My kids constantly lived in fears as he would vent his anger on them whenever he lose money.

In the end, we could not pay HDB for the 4 room flat and was chased out by HDB.

After that, we could not afford to buy another flat and had to stay at ECP for months. I remembered we would bath at public toilets, eat from leftover bbqs and I remembered crying feeling sad that my children must go through this..

We managed to rent a room for $800 a month after that. it was only after several appeal that we managed to get a public rental housing and we’ve been living there for the past 6 years.

My Husband and me has been trying to save for a bto flat for the past few years but we barley make ends meet. For example, having to pay late fees when we couldn’t pay the bills on time, unexpected expenses such as medical bills.

We tried our luck at applying for one of the Bto 2 rm flat recently and was happy to be informed by HDB that we are successful.

However, our happiness came to an end after knowing that it would cost up to 75000 + 15000 resale levy for a 40sq 2 room flat for our family of 4 (Excluding simple renovation). Which is not what we could afford, or ever afford.

There’s no way for us to be able to save this amount within the next 2 years. Also, we are not eligible for anyHDB loan or bank loan due to our age as well.

I would like to appeal for help. To fulfill my wish, to help me and my family to have a place called home since our eviction by HDB 11 years ago. Thank you in advance.