Hundreds of underprivileged Hong Kong families fear they will need to cut back on essentials, including academic support for their children, when the government ends a trial handout scheme next month for those awaiting public housing, a survey has found.

The Society for Community Organisation (SoCO) said on Sunday that half of the 330 poor households it polled in May received or were applying for the money to help pay for essentials, as it urged authorities to again extend the scheme.

“The cash allowance is no doubt a benevolent measure,” said Sze Lai-shan, deputy director of SoCO.

“It works alongside a series of policies such as light public housing, tenancy control and the basic housing unit regulatory regime to safeguard the housing rights of the low-income group.”

The handout of HK$1,300 (US$166) to HK$3,900 a month to families waiting for public rental flats for more than three years ends on June 30.

“The longer a household has received the allowance, the stronger the impacts … if the government ends it suddenly, it will for sure deal a blow to their livelihoods,” Sze said.