Bridging Housing and Poverty: Evaluating Transitional Housing and Multidimensional Poverty Alleviation

Transitional housing (TH) has become an important policy instrument in addressing housing deprivation and poverty in Hong Kong since its formal introduction in 2018. This paper synthesizes findings from two earlier empirical studies of TH projects conducted between 2020 and 2022 and between 2022 and 2024, and situates them within the context of recent developments in housing and poverty alleviation policies. The first study employed quantitative method to examine residents of a TH project, focusing on service delivery and social impacts. The findings demonstrated notable improvements in housing quality and affordability, including increased living space per capita and reduced housing expenditures, alongside enhanced community interactions. The second study adopted a longitudinal quantitative design across multiple TH cohorts, with cohort interviews conducted in late 2022 and early 2024. This study provided stronger empirical evidence of sustained improvements in residents’ sense of security, social participation, and mental well-being. This paper further examined the implementation of the Urban Graduation Approach (UGA) within TH projects in recent years, highlighting the role of Family Capacity Building Planners (FCBPs) in delivering tailored interventions encompassing employment support, financial capability, life skills development, and household asset-building. By integrating insights from these two TH studies, this paper assesses how transitional housing has evolved from a temporary accommodation measure into a multidimensional poverty alleviation platform. In light of recent policy expansion and an increased emphasis on sustainable livelihood outcomes, the paper underscores the importance of aligning transitional housing provision with comprehensive social interventions to promote long-term socioeconomic mobility for low-income households in Hong Kong.