What kind of living space can truly be called a “home”? That was the question on my mind when I visited United Court, a transitional housing estate in Tung Tau, Yuen Long, run by the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council. While there, I shared my thoughts on building a mental health-friendly community.
Nine years ago, I took part in a community-based poverty study and interviewed residents in inadequate housing. I still remember families describing their living space as little more than a bed. Some people shared kitchens and toilets; interiors were dim and cramped.
When life is compressed into limited space over the long term, what suffers is rest, study, family time and the mental health we so often overlook. The mental health problems of many residents, especially young children, are closely tied to poor living environments.