If you cannot afford housing in Singapore in 2027 or 2028, the correct next step depends on whether you need public rental accommodation, already owe HDB rent, are struggling with a home loan or need urgent family support. HDB’s Public Rental Scheme is for eligible households without adequate family support or alternative housing options, and applications are assessed holistically.
People already living in an HDB public rental flat can ask about instalment arrangements for rent arrears and referrals for ComCare or social support. Families with children may be directed into the ComLink+ Rental Scheme. Homeowners with mortgage arrears should contact their lender promptly; these are not interchangeable programmes and no outcome is automatic.
- Identify whether the issue is public rental eligibility, arrears, home loan stress or immediate housing safety.
- Check HDB’s current Public Rental Scheme conditions, family nucleus and property history rules.
- Apply through the HDB e-Service with identity, income and relevant family documents.
- Single applicants should check the Joint Singles Scheme and whether pilot applications are open.
- If rent is overdue, contact HDB early to discuss reasonable instalments and referrals.
- Seek ComCare assessment through a Social Service Office for wider financial hardship.
- If a bank mortgage is overdue, speak directly to the lender before arrears escalate.
- Keep children, older family members and immediate safety needs central to the plan.
From immediate stability to a sustainable housing plan
Housing insecurity needs a practical route
When housing costs become unmanageable, a household needs a safe place to live and an action plan, not a lecture about financial responsibility. Singapore has several different systems for rental housing, short-term assistance and home-loan difficulties, but they have distinct eligibility conditions.
HDB’s Public Rental Scheme is aimed at eligible households with no family support or other housing options. It is not an ordinary substitute for paying lower market rent when someone can comfortably purchase or rent privately.
Someone facing a sudden income loss should first establish the immediate situation: who lives in the home, when rent or mortgage payments are due, whether children or vulnerable adults are affected and what alternative accommodation is safely available.
This guide connects public rental eligibility, ComLink+, ComCare, arrears assistance and long-term housing planning for readers in 2027 and 2028, distinguishing verified schemes from future decisions that authorities have not yet announced.
Decide which housing problem you actually have
A person searching for an affordable room has a different problem from a public-rental tenant with overdue rent. An HDB owner behind on mortgage instalments has another set of options, and a family temporarily without any stable accommodation may require urgent social support.
Start by making three columns: today’s housing, immediate payment challenge and safe next step. Write the actual due dates and contact details for the landlord, lender or housing agency involved.
Do not assume all four situations belong in one HDB rental application. HDB Public Rental, private-market room rental, mortgage loan restructuring and assistance through Social Service Offices operate under different rules.
Classifying the problem prevents wasted time. A homeowner discussing mortgage arrears with a bank needs different evidence from a young single person exploring public rental eligibility under the Joint Singles Scheme.
Who can apply for HDB Public Rental?
HDB states that the Public Rental Scheme is for eligible families and singles who have no family support or other housing options. Applications are assessed holistically, taking into account income, household size, budget and individual circumstances.
The Family Scheme requires an eligible Singapore Citizen applicant aged at least twenty-one and an appropriate family nucleus that includes another qualifying citizen or permanent resident, subject to HDB’s detailed conditions.
HDB also provides the Joint Singles Scheme and newer shared accommodation models under their own requirements. Eligibility can depend on age, marital circumstances and the proposed living arrangement.
A family should use HDB’s actual application assessment rather than rely on a single popular headline income threshold. The current system asks about practical support and other housing options, not just one number.
A low income alone does not guarantee a rental flat
HDB checks whether an applicant has other housing options and whether family members are able to house or support them. Current or previous property ownership can be relevant to the assessment.
This can be difficult for someone whose personal circumstances are complicated. The right response is to explain the actual family, financial and housing situation truthfully, including why an apparent alternative may be impractical or unavailable.
Household income, housing budget, previous property proceeds and individual needs may affect the result. An applicant whose situation differs from a familiar example should not assume a rejection or approval without assessment.
Provide consistent supporting documents and use the official channel to explain significant circumstances. Omitting a property interest or household member can cause more difficulty than disclosing the situation and seeking clarification.
The Family Scheme and family nucleus
Under HDB’s Public Rental Family Scheme, applicants ordinarily form a qualifying household, such as a married couple, an eligible single applicant with parents, siblings who are orphaned, or a divorced or widowed parent with qualifying children under care and control.
HDB expressly recognises some households that may need individual consideration, including unmarried parents, non-citizen single parents with Singapore Citizen children, and divorced parents with shared care arrangements.
The words ‘family nucleus’ describe an eligibility arrangement, not an assessment of anyone’s value or the quality of family relationships. Real household circumstances may be more complicated than a short list of categories.
Gather identification, relevant marital or court documents, income records and information on children before applying. If a family does not fit neatly into the standard descriptions, contact HDB to explain the situation rather than misrepresenting it.
Single people have different public rental routes
The Joint Singles Scheme generally allows qualifying Singapore Citizen singles, divorced or legally separated people who are at least thirty-five, and certain widowed or orphaned applicants aged at least twenty-one, to apply with eligible co-applicants.
The current HDB eligibility page also discusses the Operator-Run model and Single Room Shared Facilities model, where applicants can apply individually and receive shared housing arrangements. However, actual pilot site applications can be closed even when a programme is described online.
A reader must distinguish being eligible in principle from an open application window for a specific pilot. HDB’s current pages state that applications to listed JSS-OR and SRSF pilot locations are closed.
Shared rental housing requires thought about privacy, compatibility, house rules and personal safety. Ask how co-occupants are matched, which areas are private and who manages disputes before accepting a unit.
What the public rental flats are like
HDB’s current public-rental information describes 1-room and 2-room options depending on the family or singles scheme, household size and allocation. Rental housing is allocated through available inventory and applicable administrative processes.
A family of two and a larger household may have different space needs; a single person in an operator-run arrangement may share a flat or use a private room with shared kitchen and bathroom facilities.
Do not assume that every rental block in an HDB map has an available unit. HDB lists both occupied and vacant housing locations and provides appropriate available options to eligible applicants.
Before accepting a unit, consider access to employment, childcare, family support and healthcare. Affordable rent is important, but a household also needs a workable daily living environment.
Apply through HDB’s official e-Service
HDB provides an online application route for Public Rental Scheme housing. Applicants should gather the required identification, income and personal-status documents and submit truthful details of the proposed household.
The public rental application page specifies items such as NRIC or birth certificates, income records, relevant divorce or separation documents and information on CPF-related investments where applicable.
Applying is not the same as receiving an immediate offer. HDB reviews the information and eligibility before selection, and available flats depend on the allocation process. Applicants facing immediate instability should seek parallel social assistance as appropriate.
Keep a record of the application date, reference and any follow-up request. If HDB asks for additional supporting material, respond promptly and explain clearly where an item cannot be produced.
When a person has nowhere safe to stay tonight
A long-term rental application may not solve an immediate shelter crisis. If someone is at immediate risk, especially where there is violence, danger or a child without safe accommodation, seek the relevant emergency or social support service without waiting for a normal allocation cycle.
A Social Service Office or Family Service Centre can help assess the practical needs of a household and connect it with appropriate assistance. Different emergencies may require different specialist organisations.
Do not give inaccurate guarantees that any particular shelter bed or rental flat is immediately available. Capacity and eligibility are assessed by providers, and urgent accommodation decisions require direct contact.
The most useful information to provide is the number and ages of people affected, any safety concerns, available temporary options and how to reach the household. Privacy and dignity are especially important when asking for help.
What ComCare can provide
The Ministry of Social and Family Development provides ComCare assistance for households facing financial difficulties. Social Service Offices assess needs and circumstances holistically; published income figures are not hard exclusion thresholds in every situation.
Short-to-Medium-Term Assistance can help eligible households while they work toward stability, typically starting with an assistance period of three to six months, with further reviews when ongoing support is needed.
Long-Term Assistance is aimed at people who are permanently unable to work and have little or no income and family support. The correct scheme depends on the actual circumstances, not only on the person’s age.
ComCare should be understood alongside housing assistance. It does not automatically pay an HDB mortgage or guarantee a public-rental flat; a caseworker can help connect relevant services and work through the wider financial picture.
What ComLink+ changes for families with children
HDB’s current eligibility page directs families with children below twenty-one into the ComLink+ Rental Scheme where the conditions apply. The linked support aims to address household stability, employment, children’s development and longer-term progress.
MSF’s ComLink+ approach includes engagement with Family Coaches and, for eligible families, specific progress packages that support action plans. The details of each package and eligibility criteria should be confirmed with the responsible agency.
The programme is not simply a cash payment for everyone occupying public rental housing. Progress package awards depend on qualifying conditions, participation and the relevant family’s plan.
Parents can ask for assistance that connects preschool participation, employment, family finances and housing. A coherent plan is often more helpful than applying separately for one benefit without addressing the larger problem.
If your HDB public rent is overdue
HDB identifies support options for public-rental tenants facing difficulty paying rent, including reasonable instalment arrangements for arrears and referrals to Social Service Offices for ComCare assessment.
The same guidance refers to support through Family Service Centres or other voluntary welfare organisations and the possibility of right-sizing to a smaller rental flat with lower rent where appropriate.
Contact HDB early rather than avoiding letters until the debt becomes harder to manage. Explain what happened to household income, how much is overdue and the realistic amount that could be paid regularly.
Do not promise a repayment plan that leaves no money for food, transport or childcare. Seek coordinated financial and social support and ask for an arrangement that reflects the actual household budget.
Rent arrears are a problem to address, not hide
An overdue rent balance can grow while a household avoids communication out of worry. HDB’s assistance page makes clear that an instalment arrangement may be possible within a reasonable period, together with appropriate social referrals.
Write down the rent amount, due dates, amount already paid, other essential expenses and realistic income. The goal is to propose something sustainable rather than a promise that fails after the first instalment.
If a major expense such as medical treatment or childcare has caused the shortfall, explain that context. Social Service Offices may be able to review wider needs rather than considering rent as the household’s only difficulty.
Keep all correspondence and payment records. An arrangement that both sides understand is easier to maintain and review if household circumstances change again.
Home mortgage arrears use a different route
An owner with a housing loan from a financial institution should contact that lender early to explore viable repayment options. HDB’s refinancing guidance specifically recommends early engagement with the FI when mortgage arrears develop.
Depending on the case, options for consideration can include refinancing with another qualifying financial institution, renting out spare bedrooms where allowed, bringing eligible working family members into ownership arrangements, or right-sizing to a more affordable home.
None is automatically available. A Plus or Prime flat can have restrictions on rental and ownership, refinancing may not be affordable, and a family member’s participation creates significant legal commitments.
Before signing any replacement loan, compare the interest rate, fees, lock-in conditions, downpayment or cash demands and what happens if income remains lower. Solving one monthly instalment by creating larger long-term risk may be counterproductive.
Do not confuse refinancing with returning to HDB
HDB states that an HDB housing loan may be refinanced with a loan from a MAS-regulated financial institution, but once an HDB loan has been refinanced to a bank, that loan cannot subsequently be refinanced back to HDB.
A household with bank-loan arrears should therefore not simply assume that a cheaper HDB loan can replace the bank loan. Eligibility for future HDB financing when buying another flat is a different question.
The practical route is to contact the current lender and examine viable arrangements, then assess whether another financial institution can make a legitimate refinancing offer.
A financial comparison should include the effect of rising rates, income interruptions and whether the flat’s remaining lease constrains financing. The most attractive advertisement is not necessarily the safest debt solution.
Renting out a bedroom has rules
HDB homeowners may be permitted to rent spare bedrooms if they meet applicable conditions, including eligibility, tenant requirements and restrictions. It is not an unconditional right that comes with ownership of every type of flat.
The extra income may help a household experiencing mortgage stress, but it also creates responsibilities toward a tenant, registration or approval requirements and changes to privacy and utilities.
A household should not take a deposit from a prospective tenant before checking HDB’s current conditions. What is allowed for a particular flat classification, during the MOP and for specific tenants can vary.
A stable additional income stream is more useful than a short arrangement that later breaches housing rules. Calculate the actual net income after any relevant costs, and document the tenancy properly.
Right-sizing may solve a recurring shortfall
Selling a larger flat and moving into a smaller, more affordable home may be a reasonable way to lower mortgage obligations and maintenance costs. HDB’s mortgage-arrears guidance identifies right-sizing as one possible response.
But a sale involves CPF refunds, outstanding loan redemption, transaction costs and a workable replacement housing plan. A seemingly profitable resale may release less cash than expected.
Consider family size, mobility and likely future care needs. Moving farther from a relative who provides daily childcare could raise other expenses and undo part of the mortgage saving.
A right-sizing plan should improve total financial stability, not just the loan statement. Compare recurring costs, moving expense, practical support and available housing choices before committing.
Managing rent and food as one budget
Housing stability cannot be achieved by paying all available cash toward arrears while leaving a family unable to meet basic nutrition, transport and medical needs. A realistic household budget must account for essential expenses together.
List incoming wages, assistance, reliable family support and unavoidable spending. Separate overdue balances from recurring charges. This shows whether the present shortfall is temporary or whether the overall housing arrangement is consistently unaffordable.
If the household cannot support all essential needs, use the Social Service Office to discuss comprehensive support. ComCare assesses more than a single bill and may connect families with additional services.
The budget should include what happens when an irregular expense arrives. A plan that works only if nobody becomes ill or an appliance never breaks is not a stable long-term solution.
ComCare assessments are individual
MSF explains that ComCare’s income guidelines are not rigid thresholds that exclude every household with income above a published figure. Social Service Offices look at actual needs and circumstances.
Relevant facts may include household size, dependants, medical concerns, work opportunities, existing support and necessary expenses. Applicants should be prepared to discuss the whole situation honestly.
The assessment process can be unfamiliar, but it is better to explain a difficulty clearly than avoid seeking assistance because the family thinks it is not poor enough according to an online chart.
Support is not necessarily indefinite. Short-to-Medium-Term Assistance often begins with a reviewable period, while Long-Term Assistance has a more restrictive focus on people unable to work with limited resources.
Family Service Centres support more than rent
A Family Service Centre can assist with a range of household challenges involving relationships, parenting, practical instability and social needs. It is not merely a place to receive a voucher or an emergency loan.
For a family in housing difficulty, emotional strain, school attendance, employment loss and caregiving responsibilities may be connected. An FSC worker can help identify appropriate services and coordinate referrals.
Do not expect every centre to provide the same specific financial payment. Available services and eligibility depend on the agency and the household’s circumstances.
A coordinated plan may need several small interventions rather than a single dramatic solution: finding employment, settling an arrears schedule, improving access to childcare and retaining stable accommodation.
Children’s routines belong in the housing plan
A move or rent crisis can disrupt attendance at preschool, school, healthcare and familiar support networks. Parents should include these consequences when comparing emergency options and longer-term housing choices.
Where possible, maintain a reliable contact address and transport routine so children do not repeatedly miss essential commitments. Ask relevant schools and social agencies about support if circumstances create instability.
ComLink+ for families with young people is designed partly to address such connected needs. Parents can ask how their household plan interacts with preschool and employment goals.
The safest housing choice is one the family can sustain, not merely the cheapest room available for the next week. Sometimes a modest additional transport or care expense protects essential continuity.
Older residents may need accessible rental arrangements
An older person facing housing insecurity may need help not only with rent but with mobility, medical appointments and daily living. The practical suitability of a unit depends on more than its floor area.
Check lifts, route to essential facilities, bathroom access and whether the person can live safely with the proposed co-occupants. A nominally affordable arrangement can be unsuitable for someone with mobility constraints.
Ask HDB or relevant social agencies about the available housing and support options for that person’s precise circumstances, including any family support and alternative schemes.
Respect the person’s preferences and dignity. It is not always appropriate to move someone away from established relationships solely to reduce an accounting expense.
Changing tenants or occupiers needs approval
HDB’s public-rental tenancy guidance explains that changing authorised occupiers is subject to policies and the eligible household remaining qualified. A Family Scheme tenant may be able to include qualifying immediate family members in an approved arrangement.
Under the Joint Singles Scheme, a change in co-occupant has different age and status criteria. Changes can also affect assessed rent where household income or type changes.
Do not move another person into a rental unit and assume the paperwork can be corrected later. Unauthorised occupancy can create tenancy problems and undermine social support planning.
Notify HDB through the appropriate process when family composition changes through marriage, separation, birth or other events. Keep documentary evidence of the approved arrangement.
Shared rental homes need clear expectations
Operator-run or shared-facility models can help qualifying singles obtain accommodation without first identifying a co-applicant. Such arrangements require privacy, hygiene and practical compatibility between people.
Ask about sleeping arrangements, kitchens, toilets, storage, visitor rules and how complaints are mediated. HDB says appointed social service operators can help match tenants and mediate disagreements in operator-run housing.
Individual programmes can be pilots with closed applications. Check whether applications are actually open before planning a move based on a site description or older announcement.
Respect shared resources and report serious concerns through the designated operator. Stable shared housing needs a clear relationship between tenant, operator and the housing authority.
Avoid taking expensive debt to solve rent arrears
A household under payment pressure may be tempted by high-cost credit that promises immediate relief. Borrowing to pay one month’s rent without a credible plan for the next month can enlarge the crisis.
Before signing a borrowing arrangement, compare the total repayment obligation, interest, fees and whether income can support it. Avoid unsolicited lenders and suspicious requests for identity or banking details.
Public assistance, landlord communication and budget restructuring should be examined through official channels. A financial crisis is not a reason to expose the family to scams or illegal lending.
Where debt has already accumulated, seek suitable debt-counselling or social support. The goal is to stabilise housing and essential living costs, rather than moving the same shortfall from one creditor to another.
Prepare a complete assistance file
For public rental or ComCare-related discussions, keep identification, household composition, income records, bank statements where required, rent or mortgage notices, arrears statements and relevant medical or family documents in a secure folder.
Not every agency requires every document. Read its published requirements and share only through appropriate official channels. Avoid sending unnecessary personal details through public messages or unverified contacts.
Create a one-page timeline showing when the financial difficulty started, what measures have been tried and which upcoming deadlines matter. This saves repeated explanations and reduces inconsistent information across applications.
A well-organised file helps the applicant communicate but cannot guarantee approval. Housing and social support decisions require an individual assessment against current rules and available resources.
How to contact a Social Service Office
MSF publishes an official directory of Social Service Offices and the ComCare hotline. A household can ask the relevant office to review its circumstances and explain which support processes apply.
Before contact, summarise the immediate need and upcoming deadlines. Mention whether children, older residents or anyone with significant care needs will be affected by a loss of accommodation.
Do not give personal identification numbers or bank login details to callers who cannot be verified as official representatives. Use published government websites to obtain the contact details.
If the household has already applied for assistance, bring the case reference to the next conversation. Connected information reduces duplication and helps different providers understand the plan.
What to do when a bank sends a demand letter
Read the lender’s notice promptly and identify the exact amount, due date and stated consequences. Ignoring correspondence can reduce the time available to negotiate practical alternatives.
Contact the bank’s official hardship or mortgage servicing channel. Ask what evidence it needs, whether any instalment arrangement is possible, and what happens to fees or interest during a proposed solution.
Do not rely on an informal promise that another organisation will make the overdue mortgage disappear. The lender’s contractual rights and the household’s actual affordability need to be handled directly.
If legal proceedings have begun or the household is unsure of its rights, seek qualified legal advice promptly while continuing to cooperate with legitimate communications.
A public rental application is not a foreclosure shield
An HDB owner with mortgage difficulty should not assume an application for Public Rental automatically suspends loan obligations or makes them eligible for a rental unit. HDB’s public rental rules consider existing ownership and other housing options.
If the household may eventually need to sell, discuss financing, CPF refunds, replacement housing and the practical transition before committing. A sale does not itself guarantee a subsequent Public Rental allocation.
The correct plan may involve several agencies, each with distinct authority. A lender handles mortgage repayment; HDB handles public-housing eligibility; MSF and local social agencies assess relevant support.
Clear separation of those functions helps a distressed household know which urgent action cannot wait for the outcome of another application.
The longer-term goal is stable housing
Some families will improve their finances and eventually consider purchasing a flat. Others may need continued rental support because their circumstances remain constrained. Neither outcome should be assumed at the start.
For households receiving ComLink+ support, ask how employment, savings and home-ownership goals interact with an individual family action plan. Particular progress packages have conditions and are not automatic entitlements.
Building stability usually involves reliable income, manageable debt, appropriate accommodation and access to healthcare or childcare. A simple achievable plan is more useful than a dramatic promise of immediate ownership.
Review the plan regularly. If a family member finds work, develops a care need or leaves the household, benefits and housing eligibility may need to be reassessed through the relevant official channels.
A household example: income drops unexpectedly
Imagine a family in a public rental flat whose main earner experiences a sudden reduction in work hours. Rent becomes overdue while grocery and childcare expenses continue. This is a hypothetical example, not a statement about any actual household.
The family records its income change, arrears and immediate budget. It contacts HDB to discuss a reasonable instalment plan, then asks a Social Service Office about ComCare support for the combined financial situation.
If children are part of the household, the family checks whether ComLink+ case support applies. It also examines employment options and practical childcare arrangements without assuming the programmes will grant any particular sum.
The purpose is to preserve accommodation while addressing the underlying shortfall. By acting early, the family can obtain authoritative information and consider measures appropriate to its circumstances.
Another example: a bank mortgage becomes difficult
Consider a couple with an HDB flat financed by a bank loan. One adult loses employment and monthly instalments become difficult. They could choose to ignore letters until the bank acts, but that removes possible options.
Instead they contact the lender, obtain the true arrears position and discuss viable arrangements. They consider whether permitted room rental, careful refinancing or right-sizing could help, accounting for HDB rules and the cost of each option.
They ask for a CPF and loan settlement estimate before treating a resale flat price as available cash. If family or medical needs complicate the plan, appropriate social or legal advice may be useful.
The best outcome depends on their circumstances. The goal is not always to preserve ownership at any cost; it is to secure sustainable housing without escalating avoidable debt.
What 2027 and 2028 readers should verify again
Applications, income assessments, pilot accommodation programmes and social assistance packages can change. The current Public Rental eligibility page is the authority for an application made in a future year.
Pay particular attention to whether an operator-run shared-rental pilot is accepting new applications. A programme can exist in policy but have no open vacancy or application window at a specific site.
Check the latest ComCare guidance and any relevant ComLink+ package requirements. Historical grant amounts and eligibility criteria should not be reused without verification.
This guide is a pathway, not a promised outcome. A person is better served by clear official contacts and accurate documents than by made-up guarantees of flats, grants or debt cancellation.
Frequently asked questions
Is the HDB Public Rental Scheme for anyone wanting cheap rent?
No. It is for eligible households with no adequate family support or other housing options, assessed holistically by HDB.
Can a single person apply for public rental?
Eligible singles can use schemes such as Joint Singles, subject to citizenship, age and other requirements.
Are operator-run shared rental pilot applications open?
HDB’s current pages state that applications for the listed JSS-OR and SRSF pilots are closed; check for updates.
Can people with children apply for public rental?
Eligible households can apply under the Family or ComLink+ Rental route, subject to HDB’s assessment.
Does HDB offer instalments for rent arrears?
HDB lists instalment arrangements over a reasonable timeframe among its assistance measures for public rental tenants.
Does ComCare have a completely rigid income cut-off?
MSF says published income guidelines are not hard thresholds in every case; Social Service Offices assess needs holistically.
Does ComCare guarantee a public rental unit?
No. Housing allocation and financial assistance are separate assessment processes.
Should I ignore a lender’s mortgage-arrears letter?
No. Contact the lender promptly and seek appropriate repayment or financial advice.
Can I refinance a bank loan into an HDB loan?
Generally no. HDB states a housing loan refinanced from HDB to an FI cannot be refinanced back to HDB.
Can an owner rent out a spare bedroom to help repay a mortgage?
Possibly, if the flat and household meet the applicable HDB room-rental conditions.
Do I need to disclose previous property ownership?
Yes. HDB’s public rental assessment considers current and previous property interests and sales proceeds.
Can I get help if my household income is irregular?
Explain the actual income and circumstances to HDB or the relevant Social Service Office for an individual assessment.
Official sources and further reading
Information checked against HDB and MSF resources on 5 November 2026. Eligibility and availability depend on current individual assessments; links provide the authoritative starting point.
HDB — Public Rental Scheme eligibility
HDB — Apply for a public rental flat
HDB — Public rental assistance and arrears
HDB — Joint Singles Scheme operator-run model
HDB — Single Room Shared Facilities pilot
HDB — Public rental flat types and locations
HDB — Refinancing and bank-loan arrears options
MSF — ComCare support and contact information
Related eduKateSG — Getting help with rental arrears
Related eduKateSG — HDB and Singapore housing overview
The final objective is housing stability
Start with the immediate safety and payment problem, disclose the actual household circumstances and use the right responsible organisation. Public rental housing, ComCare, ComLink+ and mortgage assistance exist for different needs. A clear route through them helps people protect a stable place to live without relying on false promises.