“[The programme] aims to set up a systematic poverty alleviation model … to help in an all-round manner impoverished households residing in transitional housing to widen their horizons and improve their living [standards],” Chief Secretary Chan said at the official launch ceremony.

Introduced in 2017, transitional housing is a government initiative to help families waiting for public rental flats and those forced to live in poor conditions in tiny subdivided spaces. As of December 2023, the average wait time for general applicants of public rental housing was about 5.8 years.

Clement Cheung Wan-ching, convenor of the programme’s advisory committee, said he hoped the government would help roll out the initiative, titled “JC PROJECT LIFT”, across the city if it was successful after its five-year run.

“This is a brand new attempt. We have taken the effective measures of poverty alleviation from agriculture-based communities and boldly transported them to Hong Kong,” Cheung said.

He was referring to providing financial support to families and equipping them with knowledge to help grow their earnings, in the same way poverty alleviation in rural areas offered households livestock and education about farming techniques to improve their livelihood.

Key components of the programme included a social hub to build community ties and help bolster general well-being and mental health, career advice from professional consultants, as well as a scheme to encourage people to save by offering them high interest rates and education to improve financial literacy.

Households will also benefit from access to a “family capacity building planner” who will help tailor professional and personal development plans to their needs. Funding of HK$10,000 to HK$20,000, depending on the size of the family, will be available to help meet development goals by taking educational courses.

Hong Kong to replace median household income as sole indicator of poverty

Warehouse worker Lu Wai-hung, his wife and their two children have taken part in the programme for three months at the recommendation of a social worker after moving to a transitional public housing estate in Tsuen Wan.

His wife, 39, was able to work part-time and add extra income to the family after signing up, with their 12-year-old daughter and 9-year-old son now joining free classes and extracurricular activities, as well as benefiting from childcare services and the help of neighbours.

Lu, 59, also became more financially literate through the programme which he said helped him to plan for the future and prompted him to quit smoking after 40 years.

“Learning how to spend rationally and wisely not only helped me quit smoking but also reduced unnecessary expenses,” he said. “I can now save HK$3,000 every month, all of which goes toward building our savings.”

Lu added that the savings would be primarily spent on his children as he hoped for a better future for them.

“I believe all parents share the same wish – for the next generation to have a better life than them,” he said. “My dream is that my children can achieve what I couldn’t with my life. None of our family has gone to university. I hope that my children can do so.”