The First Emergency Temporary Housing Established in Dasan-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul

Temporary Housing Space Created by Remodeling Vacant Houses in Dasan-dong for Low-Income Groups Facing Risk of Losing Residence, Equipped with Room, Living Room/Kitchen, and Bathroom... Stay Up to 6 Months, Extendable Twice for 3 Months Each

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Jung-gu, Seoul (Mayor Seoyangho) is preparing the first emergency temporary housing for low-income households in Dasan-dong and plans to start its operation from this month.

Emergency temporary housing refers to spaces where housing-vulnerable households facing the crisis of losing their residence due to various local disasters, unemployment, bankruptcy, domestic violence, or other urgent reasons can temporarily stay.

The first emergency temporary housing in Jung-gu is a vacant house remodeled from a property purchased for the construction of the Dasan Fortress Road public parking lot.

Although there are a few autonomous districts in Seoul that directly operate emergency temporary shelters, Jung-gu is the first to prepare emergency temporary housing using district-owned property rather than LH long-term rental housing.

The emergency temporary housing consists of two rooms, one living room combined with a kitchen, and one bathroom, with a maximum stay period of up to six months. Extensions are possible twice, each for three months, depending on urgent circumstances.

The operation is managed by the Jung-gu Housing Welfare Center (hereafter the Center) under the Seoul Housing and Communities Corporation.

The Center signed a management consignment agreement with the district at the end of December last year and began full-scale operation of the emergency temporary housing this month. The district provides the housing free of charge to the Center, which will focus on housing management and operation, tenant management, and providing case management and customized housing services.

Furthermore, the district is responsible for selecting tenants and managing tenant qualifications, while the Center handles tenant applications, reception, counseling, and linkage to housing services such as rental housing.

A district official stated, "Those who have lost jobs or experienced reduced income due to the recent COVID-19 crisis and are at risk of eviction for not being able to pay rent may also be eligible. We will actively utilize emergency temporary housing to identify beneficiaries and support vulnerable households to receive benefits." Additionally, after operating the first unit as a pilot, they plan to assess its effectiveness and demand to consider expansion.

Seoyangho, Mayor of Jung-gu, said, "We will establish a tight welfare safety net and support system so that all Jung-gu residents can be happy, and strengthen administrative responsiveness to households in crisis."