Singapore is piloting a new dorm-like public rental housing program for singles, and some say it looks worse than a Scandinavian prison

• The program — Single Room Shared Facilities Scheme — is a new housing model to be piloted by Singapore's Housing and Development Board.
• Each room runs a little under 100 square feet with basic furnishing, while bathrooms and kitchen facilities will be shared.
• Some are saying it looks no better than a Scandinavian prison, while others think it's decent for a pilot.

In Singapore — the most expensive city in the world according to the World Economic Forum — rent prices start from $2,000 Singapore dollars, or about $1,500, for a two-bedroom apartment in a public housing apartment.

Land is scarce in Singapore, a country less than a quarter the size of Rhode Island, the smallest state in the US. Over the past 60 years, the population has increased from 1.65 million to 5.45 million people, according to WorldData.

 The Housing and Development Board eligibility conditions don't allow singles to purchase public housing before they turn 35. As of 2021, public housing is where 80% of the population resides, according to Statista.

Many choose to live with their parents until they get married to avoid the high rent prices, while those who have no choice will opt to share a flat with another tenant, typically at around $500 for a fully-furnished room 30 minutes away from the city center.

On March 13, the country's Housing and Development Board revealed sample rooms of their new pilot public rental housing model for singles, which is slated to be launching applications by the end of the year.

The Single Room Shared Facilities Scheme is targeted at vulnerable singles with an average monthly income of $1,000, though those with a higher income are still welcome to apply according to the official government public housing website. 

The two 11-story buildings used to be a school dormitory, according to CNA. Previously with only 240 rooms, new additional partitions doubled the number. Each room, of a little under 100 square feet, will have the basic furnishings of a bed frame, wardrobe, table, chair, and a mini fridge.

Bathroom and kitchen facilities are communal, where 12 people will be allocated to a single bathroom with multiple cubicles. A common kitchen will be shared by 24 people. The flat will also have laundry and activity rooms. 

A fixed fee — calculated based on the person's monthly income and other factors — will be due every month. The government plans to release more information on the rent later in the year, according to The Straits Times.

Upon the release of pictures of the rooms and facilities, there have been mixed responses on various social media platforms in Singapore.

Some say that the rooms look no better than a Scandinavian prison, and are appalled at the "poor" standard of living that vulnerable singles are offered with this scheme. "We are the most expensive city, yet that's what HDB (Housing and Development Board) can offer to non-prisoners," a tweet read, with a picture of a bedroom in Norway's Halden prison.

—GT (@Jigpoplure) March 13, 2023

On the other hand, some are optimistic about the program, saying that since it's a pilot program, it helps to see if it works for now and what can be improved in the future. "I was apprehensive when I first saw the pics. But after looking at the rent, I think this may be a good to have option for vulnerable singles who need an alternative accommodation to find safety," another tweet read. 

—Jasmine Tan (@stylohotmilo) March 13, 2023

Although the number of street homeless persons dropped by more than 40%, from 1,050 to 616, in 2021, the occupancy in temporary shelters increased more than sixfold, according to a report by Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. "The public rental housing system contributed directly to homelessness," the same report states.