Sim Boon Ngoh
Mdm Sim has lived in her flat since 1973, when she moved from a rental flat in Commonwealth Crescent which she occupied with her late mother. Together with other relocated residents, they became proud first-generation owners of this new public housing estate, built on exhumed Chinese burial ground. Over the last 39 years, her flat has been the centre of many family reunions and gatherings. When her mother passed away in 2011, Mdm Sim found herself living alone for the first time in her life.
Ms. Tashiana
Ms Amy downsized from a rented landed double-storey house to her present three-room flat at the end of 2004. She lives here with her cat Dizzy who knowingly roams the corridors of this neighbourhood. With her own family members residing in Malaysia, Amy's close friends have become her extended family. As a fashion consultant and an ex-model, Ms Amy has furnished her flat with a theatrical flair generally uncommon in public housing units. While she loves her home, Ms Amy is concerned about her future, particularly about growing old alone.
Tang Ling Nah
Ms Tang, an award-winning Singapore artist, gave up a possible career as a pharmacist to pursue her passion for drawing. She bought her flat after renting one for many years. It doubles up as her studio space, and was completely remodeled to suit Ms Tang’s artistic practice. This is a meaningful investment for Ms Tang since it brings her back to Sembawang where she grew up. It also marks her entry as a stakeholder in the ‘Singapore dream’ of property ownership – an ambivalent commitment for one whose vocation is not always tied to a consistent income.