Singapore - The Wednesday deadline for the closure of a shelter for homeless foreign maids has been extended by two months, news reports said Tuesday.

Singapore's Urban Development Authority (UDA) extended the deadline for evicting nearly 100 women, many of whom are victims of abuse and rape.

The Humanitarian Organization for Migration Economics (HOME), the group that runs the three-storey facility, told The Straits Times that it will get the UDA stamp of approval once it finds another site.

The UDA, the government planning agency, said that overcrowding at the present premises presented health and hygiene problems that could affect the maids. UDA rules also prohibit properties meant for residential use to house foreign workers.

The women have been sharing seven bedrooms and five bathrooms.

Providing a permanent shelter for the maids has been a long- running problem, said HOME executive director Jolovan Wham, noting that the maids have had to move twice in the last two years.

Cost is a major factor.

"Rent, food and utilities come up to at least 20,000 Singapore dollars (14,000 US dollars), when we have a budget of only 10,000 Singapore dollars," HOME founder Bridget Tan was quoted as saying.

HOME, which receives 50 to 100 referrals a month from the Manpower Ministry, police and employers, has decided to stop sheltering new residents for the time being.

Foreign maids constitute the largest number of overseas workers in the city-state. They come primarily from Indonesia, the Philippines and other South-East Asian countries. (dpa)