Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to specify why present safety-net schemes for housing are not helping the low-income people, and to discuss what is needed to secure housing for them. The major problem is that low-income persons are excluded from the rental housing market. Based on research regarding residents of an illegal share-house, this paper indicates five factors hindering access to rental housing: (1) Low-income persons cannot cover the primary cost, (2) they cannot consistently pay the rent, (3) they have neither housing guarantors nor emergency contacts, (4) they can not use the services of loan guarantee companies, and (5) there is little suitable housing for underemployed people. This paper reviews the safety-net schemes for housing for low-income people, two main means being social housing and housing support councils, and points out that these schemes do not meet the demands of low-income persons. To assist low-income persons, it will be necessary to conduct a housing policy that increases the supply of social housing, provides housing benefits, including subsidies for the primary cost, and establishes a support system for those who do not have guarantees or emergency contacts.
