PH2 hostel essentials

PH2 essentials

HKFYG’s youth hostel, dubbed “PH2”, is a first for Hong Kong. The goal is to create a residential community for working young people aged between 18 and 30. The hope is to help them build stronger life skills and social networks as well as better financial planning. Rents are set at 60% of local market prices.

Purpose-built on the foundations of a former Federation Youth SPOT, the 20-storey building still has a youth centre that is open to the public on the ground floor and first floor. PH2 communal facilities are sited on the second and third floors. All other accommodation is on the upper floors.

Location 2 Po Heung Street, Tai Po Market Accommodation 78 units for 80 persons Including:  Single units [approx 187- 232 sq ft] Monthly rent HK$4,248-HK$5,831

Double units also suitable for the disabled approx 398 sq ft Monthly rent HK$8,670-HK$8,711

Co-living units for three with shared living room Monthly rent per person HK$4,606-HK$5,671

First tenancy duration Two years Renewable For a maximum of five years

Eligibility  Age 18-30  initial income level not to exceed HK$21,000  Total net asset limit for an individual tenant not to exceed $364,000  Total income and net asset limits for two joint applicants is double that of individuals  Existing Hong Kong residential property owners excluded  Aspirant applicants are selected by lottery and then by interview  Application is open annually for a specific period  Current year [2019] applications closed  First move-in date March 2020 More details visit PH2.hkfyg.org.hk

There were 900 applicants in the first round of selection out of which 300 for single units and 10 for double units were drawn by a computerized lottery system. In the final round, assessment will be according to several criteria including the space currently available at home and the conditions in which applicants live, their urgency of need for alternative accommodation and the affordability of PH2 rents.

HKFYG’s goal includes building PH2’s tenants’ financial planning and other life skills. Therefore, applicants’ attitudes and their readiness to take up opportunities for creating and expanding networks with other people also count in the selection process.

Hong Kong’s Youth Hostel Scheme

The Youth Hostel Scheme [YHS] was launched to tackle the problem of unaffordable housing for 18-30-year-olds. It is administered by the Home Affairs Bureau as a project for youth development rather than poverty alleviation. PH2 is the first hostel under the scheme to open. Other youth hostels are being built by NGOs with government funding but also run on a selffinancing basis. The scheme, which will deliver seven hostels in total, aims to provide young adults with their own living space and an opportunity to save for their future. The Chief Secretary for Administration noted in his blog in June 2018, “The YHS provides youth with transitional support in terms of time and space so that they can better prepare themselves for personal development in the future. The time-limited tenancy ensures the turnover of hostel places, thus allowing more youngsters to benefit from the scheme.”

Goals of YHS  to target young working people aged 18 to 30  to offer hostel places at lower than market rents to youngsters who have just left school and are finding their feet in the job market  to give young working people who wish to have a place of their own the chance to pursue their aspirations while saving for their future development

More hostels to follow  Jordan [Hong Kong Girl Guides Association]  Ma Tin Pok Yuen Long [Po Leung Kuk]  Mong Kok [Hong Kong Association of Youth Development]  Sheung Wan [Tung Wah Group of Hospitals]  Wan Chai [Salvation Army]  Yuen Long Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council Ltd Read more cso.gov.hk/eng/blog/blog20180603.htm

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Publisher : The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups 香港青年協會 hkfyg.org.hk． m21.hk Youth Hong Kong: 21/F, The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups Building, 21 Pak Fuk Road, North Point, Hong Kong Tel : 3755 7097． 3755 7108． Fax : 3755 7155． Email : youthhongkong@hkfyg.org.hk． Website : youthhongkong.hkfyg.org.hk The title of this journal in Chinese is Xiang Gang Qing Nian 香港青年