Urban Renewal Authority 2018-19 Annual Report

61 CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY Caring for the Underprivileged Besides adopting a people-oriented approach when delivering our core businesses of redevelopment and rehabilitation, the URA also seeks opportunities to engage our partners and help people in need. It is widely acknowledged that the lack of affordable housing is a top issue affecting poverty in Hong Kong. Low-income households not currently covered by public rental housing have no choice but to reside in appalling flats or sub-divided units or cubicles. During 2018/19, the URA continued to offer some renovated flats in the acquired properties at Wing Lee Street and Staunton Street, as well as units at our rehousing blocks to NGOs and SEs including The Hong Kong Council of Social Service, The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, Light Be and International Social Service (Hong Kong Branch), so that they may arrange short-term tenancies at below market rent for underprivileged residents. The URA has also rendered more properties for concessionary tenancy in our acquired properties, URA-owned properties and dedicated preserved historical buildings to these NGOs and SEs in addition to The Association of the Hong Kong Central and Western District Limited, Social Ventures Hong Kong, New Life Charitable Foundation Limited and Mighty Oaks Foundation Limited. As an initiative to offer assistance to families residing in poor living conditions of aged buildings, especially the elderly, the URA sponsored two local organisations to launch services titled “Home Repair Services Community Programme” in Kowloon City and Sham Shui Po. The programme included home visits to the underprivileged families and free repair of household appliances. The programme received positive responses from local residents in the two districts, and more than 400 households benefited since the launch of this community service. Cultivating Arts and Culture in Old Districts Neighbourhood is more than its physical environment. It is the local culture and characteristics that shape its identity. An appreciation of the local arts and culture will allow for a deeper understanding of the community while enriching quality of life. In 2018/19, the URA’s “Arts and Cultural Partnership Programme in Old Urban Districts: Pilot Scheme” supported a total of nine new and ongoing programmes. These covered an array of activities such as music and dance, graffiti painting and urban sketching, etc., to enliven old urban districts by bringing enjoyment to local residents. ‘Hidden Art in TKW’, one of the programmes with place-making element, has engaged more than 100 residents in the To Kwa Wan (TKW) district to sketch local landmarks. The art pieces were then made as art installations and exhibited in TKW for public enjoyment. Since the launch of the scheme, the URA has supported a total of 57 arts and cultural programmes, enhancing the living quality of about 667,635 people. Volunteer repairmen help solitary elderly repair household appliances under the “Home Repair Services Community Programme”. Urban sketching activity allows local residents to enjoy art while building bonds with the community.