Many Hongkongers unable to live in decent home

According to the United Nations, 1.6 billion people around the world live without adequate housing; of these, more than 500 million people in Asia live in slums.

Poor housing affects health, education, physical security and poses myriad other challenges. A decent home provides a stable, healthy environment for our next generation; it also attracts economic investment and development. Extensive research demonstrates that improving housing helps break the cycle of poverty.

UN figures show that by 2050, 70 per cent of the world's population is projected to be living in urban areas, which may cause slums and unplanned settlements to swell.

The current situation is already alarming, given the fact that 523 million people in Asia are living in slums. Each day, another 120,000 people are added to the populations of Asian cities, requiring the construction of at least 20,000 new dwellings and supporting infrastructure. Housing demand is outpacing supply in Asia.

In Hong Kong, people live in a city that is home to some of the world's richest people as well as 1.3 million people - one fifth of our population - who live below the poverty line, according to government data published in 2013. Not all in this prosperous society are enjoying the same basic right of having a decent home.

Cleaning up the home, repairing a door or painting a wall are difficult tasks for the elderly and people with disabilities who are living in poverty. A small living space that has not been maintained properly for years may pose potential health and safety hazards.