NEEDY families in the Aljunied-Hougang community will soon enjoy subsidies for coffeeshop meals, MP Yeo Guat Kwang announced at a media briefing on Monday.

Up to 200 families are expected to benefit from the Hearty Meals programme, which is set to kick off when Acting Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts Lui Tuck Yew visits the division of Aljunied GRC on Nov 22.

Under the initiative, these residents will need to pay only $1 for a $3 meal. The remaining $2 will be subsidised by Ci Yuan Philanthropic Centre and the respective stall owners. Nine stall holders have signed up so far.

Mr Yeo suggested the programme after finding that many of their 850 needy residents, who have been receiving food items, do not cook. Some are elderly residents who live alone, or experience physical difficulties that prevent them from cooking.