We thank Mr V. Balu for his suggestions and concern for those in need (Set up task force to help those living on streets; Oct 11).
The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) looks into each report of persons sleeping in public.
The MSF also conducts patrols and joint efforts with other agencies to engage those who are sleeping in public.
Our priority is to ascertain and address their immediate needs, in particular their health and safety.
Those with no family support and housing are offered shelter.
Individuals who need long-term support are cared for in welfare homes.
There are often multiple and complex issues that may result in a person sleeping in public.
For instance, some may have homes but are unable to return home due to a conflict with family members or tenants.
We work closely with social service, community and government agencies to extend help and support to these individuals by providing financial assistance, employment assistance, counselling to address marital and family issues, or referrals to other services.
There are also instances where individuals decline assistance, despite attempts by MSF officers, social workers and community members to engage them to offer the necessary support.
Members of the public can play a role too. If they see someone in need, they can approach him, understand his situation, and call the ComCare hotline on 1800-222-0000 or advise him to approach the nearest Social Service Office or Family Service Centre if he requires help.
Kong Kum Peck (Ms)
Director
ComCare and Social Support Division
Social Policy and Services Group
Ministry of Social and Family Development
ST Forum, 14 Oct 2017
180 found sleeping on streets
Volunteers find many of them have jobs and do not fit stereotypes of homeless people
By Kok Xing Hui, The Straits Times, 7 Oct 2017
Over a five-hour stretch, 100 volunteers found 180 people sleeping outdoors across 25 locations in Singapore. Most were men aged above 50, and a good proportion had jobs.
This point-in-time survey is believed to be the first of its kind here. It was done in March by volunteer welfare organisation Montfort Care and volunteer group SW101, which focuses on issues facing low-income individuals.
Of the 180 people, 84 answered some or all of the survey questions, which ranged from personal particulars, like age and educational background, to home ownership. The rest declined or were already asleep. Those sleeping outdoors were found mainly in parks such as East Coast Park and at HDB blocks.
The exercise, conducted from 9pm to 2am, also revealed that 21 had been sleeping outdoors for more than a year, and 18 for more than five years.
Assistant Professor Ng Kok Hoe, who is part of the research effort, said he was alarmed by how long people were sleeping in public.
"You would think that if people were sleeping outside, if these were the numbers and if it has been happening for so long, we would have noticed. I think it reminds us how invisible they often are," said Prof Ng, who is from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.
That 60 per cent of them were working - 58 per cent full-time, 38 per cent in casual employment - was another finding that surprised the team. Most of those with jobs were cleaners or security guards.
A quarter of those surveyed have a registered address, often a rental flat under the Joint Singles Scheme.
The homeless people found did not fit stereotypes.
Said Prof Ng: "They are able-bodied, and they are actually holding down jobs - just not very rewarding jobs. The low wages are a reminder of the work issues that a particular segment of the population faces."
The point-in-time count methodology is common in the United States and Britain, where it is used to monitor homeless populations.
When The Straits Times visited Chinatown late on Monday night, there were people sleeping across plastic chairs, on cardboard laid out on benches, and with their heads down on the tables of 24-hour coffee shops. One, slumped on the table in a coffee shop, said he has a job clearing tables at People's Park Complex.
The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) clarified that some may have homes but choose to sleep in public because of family disputes, or because they are shift workers who want to be near their workplaces. MSF said it assists in about 300 homeless cases each year - which it defined as people who have no means of accommodation.
But while the Government can house them in shelters, some prefer the freedom of living on the streets, said Mr Abraham Yeo, 35, founder of volunteer group Homeless Hearts, which befriends the homeless.
Prof Ng's team also found that, in the past year, none of those sleeping on the streets had asked for help from shelters, and less than 20 per cent had sought help from friends and family, MPs and the authorities.
Tampines GRC MP Desmond Choo, who sits on the Government Parliamentary Committee for Social and Family Development, said measures are in place to help the homeless find shelter.
He hoped people can encourage those sleeping in public to seek help. "We should be concerned for the homeless for their security and well-being, regardless of the reasons for them not going home," he said. "Only with proper shelter can they set about rebuilding their lives."
Prof Ng suggested one way forward is for outreach efforts and shelter services to be expanded. But it is important for the public to first understand the challenges faced by the homeless: "When the public is not aware of the problem, our society cannot begin to address it properly."
The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) looks into each report of persons sleeping in public.
The MSF also conducts patrols and joint efforts with other agencies to engage those who are sleeping in public.
Our priority is to ascertain and address their immediate needs, in particular their health and safety.
Those with no family support and housing are offered shelter.
Individuals who need long-term support are cared for in welfare homes.
There are often multiple and complex issues that may result in a person sleeping in public.
For instance, some may have homes but are unable to return home due to a conflict with family members or tenants.
We work closely with social service, community and government agencies to extend help and support to these individuals by providing financial assistance, employment assistance, counselling to address marital and family issues, or referrals to other services.
There are also instances where individuals decline assistance, despite attempts by MSF officers, social workers and community members to engage them to offer the necessary support.
Kong Kum Peck (Ms)
Director
ComCare and Social Support Division
Social Policy and Services Group
Ministry of Social and Family Development
ST Forum, 14 Oct 2017
180 found sleeping on streets
Volunteers find many of them have jobs and do not fit stereotypes of homeless people
By Kok Xing Hui, The Straits Times, 7 Oct 2017
Over a five-hour stretch, 100 volunteers found 180 people sleeping outdoors across 25 locations in Singapore. Most were men aged above 50, and a good proportion had jobs.
This point-in-time survey is believed to be the first of its kind here. It was done in March by volunteer welfare organisation Montfort Care and volunteer group SW101, which focuses on issues facing low-income individuals.
Of the 180 people, 84 answered some or all of the survey questions, which ranged from personal particulars, like age and educational background, to home ownership. The rest declined or were already asleep. Those sleeping outdoors were found mainly in parks such as East Coast Park and at HDB blocks.
The exercise, conducted from 9pm to 2am, also revealed that 21 had been sleeping outdoors for more than a year, and 18 for more than five years.
Assistant Professor Ng Kok Hoe, who is part of the research effort, said he was alarmed by how long people were sleeping in public.
"You would think that if people were sleeping outside, if these were the numbers and if it has been happening for so long, we would have noticed. I think it reminds us how invisible they often are," said Prof Ng, who is from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.
That 60 per cent of them were working - 58 per cent full-time, 38 per cent in casual employment - was another finding that surprised the team. Most of those with jobs were cleaners or security guards.
A quarter of those surveyed have a registered address, often a rental flat under the Joint Singles Scheme.
The homeless people found did not fit stereotypes.
Said Prof Ng: "They are able-bodied, and they are actually holding down jobs - just not very rewarding jobs. The low wages are a reminder of the work issues that a particular segment of the population faces."
The point-in-time count methodology is common in the United States and Britain, where it is used to monitor homeless populations.
When The Straits Times visited Chinatown late on Monday night, there were people sleeping across plastic chairs, on cardboard laid out on benches, and with their heads down on the tables of 24-hour coffee shops. One, slumped on the table in a coffee shop, said he has a job clearing tables at People's Park Complex.
The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) clarified that some may have homes but choose to sleep in public because of family disputes, or because they are shift workers who want to be near their workplaces. MSF said it assists in about 300 homeless cases each year - which it defined as people who have no means of accommodation.
But while the Government can house them in shelters, some prefer the freedom of living on the streets, said Mr Abraham Yeo, 35, founder of volunteer group Homeless Hearts, which befriends the homeless.
Prof Ng's team also found that, in the past year, none of those sleeping on the streets had asked for help from shelters, and less than 20 per cent had sought help from friends and family, MPs and the authorities.
Tampines GRC MP Desmond Choo, who sits on the Government Parliamentary Committee for Social and Family Development, said measures are in place to help the homeless find shelter.
He hoped people can encourage those sleeping in public to seek help. "We should be concerned for the homeless for their security and well-being, regardless of the reasons for them not going home," he said. "Only with proper shelter can they set about rebuilding their lives."
Prof Ng suggested one way forward is for outreach efforts and shelter services to be expanded. But it is important for the public to first understand the challenges faced by the homeless: "When the public is not aware of the problem, our society cannot begin to address it properly."
Key Findings
By Kok Xing Hui, The Straits Times, 7 Oct 2017
Members of SW101, a volunteer group of social workers and academics, and staff from charity Montfort Care found 180 people sleeping on the streets here. They were conducting a street survey to find out how many people were sleeping in public and therefore might be homeless. These are the key findings of their survey:
• 61 per cent were aged 50 and older; 24 per cent were in their 20s to 40s.
• 88 per cent were men.
• Of the 84 who answered a question on their marital status, 40 per cent said they were single.
• 23 out of 84 had an HDB flat in their name - 15 were rental flats and five were purchased.
• 48 out of 80 who answered about their employment were employed.
• Of the 74 who answered a question on their education level, 53 per cent said they had primary school education or less, 40 per cent had secondary school education, 8 per cent had post-secondary certificates or diplomas.
By Kok Xing Hui, The Straits Times, 7 Oct 2017
Members of SW101, a volunteer group of social workers and academics, and staff from charity Montfort Care found 180 people sleeping on the streets here. They were conducting a street survey to find out how many people were sleeping in public and therefore might be homeless. These are the key findings of their survey:
• 61 per cent were aged 50 and older; 24 per cent were in their 20s to 40s.
• 88 per cent were men.
• Of the 84 who answered a question on their marital status, 40 per cent said they were single.
• 23 out of 84 had an HDB flat in their name - 15 were rental flats and five were purchased.
• 48 out of 80 who answered about their employment were employed.
• Of the 74 who answered a question on their education level, 53 per cent said they had primary school education or less, 40 per cent had secondary school education, 8 per cent had post-secondary certificates or diplomas.
Complex issue with many causes: Ministry
By Kok Xing Hui, The Straits Times, 7 Oct 2017
Homelessness is a "complex issue" with many underlying causes, ranging from financial to marital and family difficulties.
The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) said this in response to questions sent by The Straits Times about the findings of a survey done by SW101 and Montfort Care.
It added that in dealing with homelessness, the Government works with various parties to address underlying issues, such as providing employment assistance, counselling to address marital and family issues, or link-ups to other services such as childcare.
"MSF looks into all cases brought to our attention, to ascertain the individuals' situations. Our priority is to ensure their immediate needs are met and they receive support to address their long-term housing and living needs," it said.
Vulnerable individuals, such as women and children, are given immediate assistance and admitted to crisis shelters, it added.
Families who have exhausted all housing options may be admitted into transitional shelters.
Older persons who have physical or mental health conditions, no means of supporting themselves, or no family able or willing to support them are admitted to welfare homes, it said.
"However, even as we seek to provide support to the needy in our community, there are some who prefer to be self-reliant or decline assistance for other reasons."
Last year, the MSF dealt with 269 cases of homelessness, which it defined to be people with no means of accommodation. Its figures exclude those who have a home but choose to sleep in public because of family disputes or other reasons.
Of the 269 cases, 93 were of families who went into transitional shelters, and 176 were of individuals who went into transitional shelters or welfare homes.
In 2015, MSF dealt with 296 cases.
• Members of the public can help by approaching people in need to find out more about their situations, before calling the ComCare hotline on 1800-222-0000.
By Kok Xing Hui, The Straits Times, 7 Oct 2017
The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) said this in response to questions sent by The Straits Times about the findings of a survey done by SW101 and Montfort Care.
It added that in dealing with homelessness, the Government works with various parties to address underlying issues, such as providing employment assistance, counselling to address marital and family issues, or link-ups to other services such as childcare.
"MSF looks into all cases brought to our attention, to ascertain the individuals' situations. Our priority is to ensure their immediate needs are met and they receive support to address their long-term housing and living needs," it said.
Vulnerable individuals, such as women and children, are given immediate assistance and admitted to crisis shelters, it added.
Families who have exhausted all housing options may be admitted into transitional shelters.
Older persons who have physical or mental health conditions, no means of supporting themselves, or no family able or willing to support them are admitted to welfare homes, it said.
"However, even as we seek to provide support to the needy in our community, there are some who prefer to be self-reliant or decline assistance for other reasons."
Last year, the MSF dealt with 269 cases of homelessness, which it defined to be people with no means of accommodation. Its figures exclude those who have a home but choose to sleep in public because of family disputes or other reasons.
Of the 269 cases, 93 were of families who went into transitional shelters, and 176 were of individuals who went into transitional shelters or welfare homes.
In 2015, MSF dealt with 296 cases.
• Members of the public can help by approaching people in need to find out more about their situations, before calling the ComCare hotline on 1800-222-0000.
Homeless stereotypes busted: Most hold jobs, have been destitute for over a year
3 in 5 of those surveyed hold jobs, many full-time; 1 in 4 have been on the streets for more than five years; and half are aged 41-59
By Derrick A Paulo and Goh Chiew Tong, Channel NewsAsia, 7 Oct 2017
Most of them have jobs, and more than a quarter have a flat in their name, primarily rental flats.
And yet, the majority have been sleeping in public places for upwards of a year or beyond.
A street survey has provided this profile of homelessness in Singapore, one that may not quite fit the stereotype of destitute people here.
Take, for example, the finding that six in 10 of those who answered the survey were employed.
Of this group, nearly 60 per cent were working full-time, while about 40 per cent were holding part-time or casual jobs. The most common occupations were cleaners and security guards.
One-third of the respondents had been sleeping in public over the last one to five years. Another 27 per cent had made the streets their home for more than five years.
The survey done by SW101, a group of professionals concerned about social work and services in Singapore, is the first such study here, according to group member Ng Kok Hoe, a Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy assistant professor.
Highlighting the surprising finding about how many of the destitute were actually employed, Dr Ng said: "For us it came as a sharp reminder (of) people with lower skills, lower education who end up in unstable, low-paying work.
Homelessness is one of the most serious implications of this kind of wage conditions.
"It was a wake-up call for us (that) you could hold a job, and still be in such housing instability that you end up on the streets," he said, speaking at a social work seminar on Saturday afternoon.
180 IS A ‘LIKELY UNDERESTIMATION’
Known as a street count, this type of survey has been done in countries such as the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
For one night, more than 100 people, including SW101 members, staff from community organisation Montfort Care and other volunteers, fanned out across Singapore to find out how many people might be homeless.
At 25 sites - chosen based on information from social workers and non-governmental organisations - the group counted at least 180 persons, and another 29 who did not want to say they were sleeping in public. The vast majority were men.
The locations included public parks and shopping centres, where the bulk of the people were found; as well public housing blocks, pedestrian walkways and town centres.
Citing volunteers' descriptions of the conditions in which they found these individuals - which included pest-infested, uncomfortable and urine-stained areas - Dr Ng said they were surprised by the number of years some had been sleeping in places "the volunteers didn’t think was hospitable for someone to spend even a night".
For these people, he noted:
Homelessness is a chronic condition .. not a temporary measure. It has become a way of life for people who have no choice.
He also pointed out that the survey was not a nationwide count, and "is therefore likely to underestimate the actual extent of homelessness in Singapore".
AVERAGE OF 300 CASES ASSISTED BY MSF EACH YEAR
On average each year, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) assists an average of 300 cases of homelessness. These involve persons who have no means of accommodation and require housing support.
The cases exclude individuals who have a home but choose to sleep in public because of family disputes or other reasons.
“For example, some choose to sleep near their workplace for convenience or because they work shifts. This could account for the difference between the MSF’s figures and the reported sightings by SW101,” a ministry spokesperson said in reply to queries.
The total number of cases reported by the MSF has also fallen. In 2013, it stood at 321, of which 177 were individuals and 144 were families.
Last year, that figure was 269, with fewer families assisted but almost the same number of individual cases. Nonetheless, the ministry “looks into all cases” brought to its attention, “to ascertain the individuals’ situations”.
On the profile of destitute persons, the spokesperson said: “They tend to be older and may have physical or mental health conditions and have no means of supporting themselves. They’re likely to have little or no family able or willing to support them.
“As they have lower potential of securing a housing option in the long term or to live independently in the community, the MSF would admit these individuals to welfare homes.”
NOT ALL ELDERLY; FAMILY CONFLICTS INVOLVED
It is not necessarily the case, however, that homeless individuals are elderly. Detailed government figures from 2010 showed that half of those identified as being in need of shelter were aged between 41 and 59.
SW101’s street survey in March bears this out. Many of the individuals the group spoke to were of working age and in their productive years, noted Dr Ng. Minorities were also overrepresented.
Not all wished to talk, however; fewer than half of the individuals identified gave responses. They were also not asked why they were sleeping in public.
NGOs working with homeless individuals say the reasons include family conflict and relationship issues. Some, especially older men, had failed marriages.
Others had bought and sold subsidised flats twice and cannot afford another home but are ineligible for rental flats.
There is the Housing and Development Board’s Joint Singles Scheme, but it is “not easy to share an apartment with a stranger, or it’s difficult to find another single who’s eligible”, said Mr Chan Xian Jie from Montfort Care.
He leads a team of social workers from Marine Parade Family Service Centre to the East Coast Park area, where squatters have been known to camp.
There, he currently sees complex cases such as young couples who are products of dysfunctional families with problems such as drug use and violence. Some of the youths left home at the age of 18. Some even have young children.
“(The women) may qualify for shelter but would be required to split (with their boyfriends),” he noted. So they stay where they are with their children.
HOMELESSNESS NOT WHAT SOME MIGHT IMAGINE
Then there are those who do not identify themselves as destitute. Said Mr Chan:
They see homeless people as people with holes in their shirts, depend on the Government for welfare, are dirty and unkempt. Why would they want to declare themselves a destitute person?
This is a point the MSF acknowledges. “Even as we seek to provide support to the needy in our community, there are some who prefer to be self-reliant or decline assistance for other reasons,” said its spokesperson.
Homeless Hearts of Singapore, an informal group of volunteers, has likewise found that homelessness here may not look like what people imagine. (Read our previous story.)
Mr Abraham Yeo, 35, said his group sees individuals who are mainly in their 40s but also as young as their 20s, including the employed.
Some stay overnight in internet cafes in Geylang, for example, and even go online to apply for jobs. “There was once we went, and we found them to be quite good gamers,” said Mr Yeo.
Ben (not his real name), 35, is one who has slept in Lan shops.
Homeless for eight years and working as a banquet waiter for the past eight months “just to make ends meet”, he earned a diploma in tourism last year, hoping it would improve his employment options.
“If you don’t make an effort to stay competitive, then you’re going to become a dinosaur,” he said. “I can actually make a contribution to this world – change it in my own small way.”
If you see someone in need: Call the ComCare hotline (1800 222-0000), or advise the person to approach the nearest Social Service Office or Family Service Centre.
3 in 5 of those surveyed hold jobs, many full-time; 1 in 4 have been on the streets for more than five years; and half are aged 41-59
By Derrick A Paulo and Goh Chiew Tong, Channel NewsAsia, 7 Oct 2017
Most of them have jobs, and more than a quarter have a flat in their name, primarily rental flats.
And yet, the majority have been sleeping in public places for upwards of a year or beyond.
A street survey has provided this profile of homelessness in Singapore, one that may not quite fit the stereotype of destitute people here.
Take, for example, the finding that six in 10 of those who answered the survey were employed.
Of this group, nearly 60 per cent were working full-time, while about 40 per cent were holding part-time or casual jobs. The most common occupations were cleaners and security guards.
One-third of the respondents had been sleeping in public over the last one to five years. Another 27 per cent had made the streets their home for more than five years.
The survey done by SW101, a group of professionals concerned about social work and services in Singapore, is the first such study here, according to group member Ng Kok Hoe, a Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy assistant professor.
Highlighting the surprising finding about how many of the destitute were actually employed, Dr Ng said: "For us it came as a sharp reminder (of) people with lower skills, lower education who end up in unstable, low-paying work.
Homelessness is one of the most serious implications of this kind of wage conditions.
"It was a wake-up call for us (that) you could hold a job, and still be in such housing instability that you end up on the streets," he said, speaking at a social work seminar on Saturday afternoon.
180 IS A ‘LIKELY UNDERESTIMATION’
Known as a street count, this type of survey has been done in countries such as the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
For one night, more than 100 people, including SW101 members, staff from community organisation Montfort Care and other volunteers, fanned out across Singapore to find out how many people might be homeless.
At 25 sites - chosen based on information from social workers and non-governmental organisations - the group counted at least 180 persons, and another 29 who did not want to say they were sleeping in public. The vast majority were men.
The locations included public parks and shopping centres, where the bulk of the people were found; as well public housing blocks, pedestrian walkways and town centres.
Citing volunteers' descriptions of the conditions in which they found these individuals - which included pest-infested, uncomfortable and urine-stained areas - Dr Ng said they were surprised by the number of years some had been sleeping in places "the volunteers didn’t think was hospitable for someone to spend even a night".
For these people, he noted:
Homelessness is a chronic condition .. not a temporary measure. It has become a way of life for people who have no choice.
He also pointed out that the survey was not a nationwide count, and "is therefore likely to underestimate the actual extent of homelessness in Singapore".
AVERAGE OF 300 CASES ASSISTED BY MSF EACH YEAR
On average each year, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) assists an average of 300 cases of homelessness. These involve persons who have no means of accommodation and require housing support.
The cases exclude individuals who have a home but choose to sleep in public because of family disputes or other reasons.
“For example, some choose to sleep near their workplace for convenience or because they work shifts. This could account for the difference between the MSF’s figures and the reported sightings by SW101,” a ministry spokesperson said in reply to queries.
The total number of cases reported by the MSF has also fallen. In 2013, it stood at 321, of which 177 were individuals and 144 were families.
Last year, that figure was 269, with fewer families assisted but almost the same number of individual cases. Nonetheless, the ministry “looks into all cases” brought to its attention, “to ascertain the individuals’ situations”.
On the profile of destitute persons, the spokesperson said: “They tend to be older and may have physical or mental health conditions and have no means of supporting themselves. They’re likely to have little or no family able or willing to support them.
“As they have lower potential of securing a housing option in the long term or to live independently in the community, the MSF would admit these individuals to welfare homes.”
NOT ALL ELDERLY; FAMILY CONFLICTS INVOLVED
It is not necessarily the case, however, that homeless individuals are elderly. Detailed government figures from 2010 showed that half of those identified as being in need of shelter were aged between 41 and 59.
SW101’s street survey in March bears this out. Many of the individuals the group spoke to were of working age and in their productive years, noted Dr Ng. Minorities were also overrepresented.
Not all wished to talk, however; fewer than half of the individuals identified gave responses. They were also not asked why they were sleeping in public.
NGOs working with homeless individuals say the reasons include family conflict and relationship issues. Some, especially older men, had failed marriages.
Others had bought and sold subsidised flats twice and cannot afford another home but are ineligible for rental flats.
There is the Housing and Development Board’s Joint Singles Scheme, but it is “not easy to share an apartment with a stranger, or it’s difficult to find another single who’s eligible”, said Mr Chan Xian Jie from Montfort Care.
He leads a team of social workers from Marine Parade Family Service Centre to the East Coast Park area, where squatters have been known to camp.
There, he currently sees complex cases such as young couples who are products of dysfunctional families with problems such as drug use and violence. Some of the youths left home at the age of 18. Some even have young children.
“(The women) may qualify for shelter but would be required to split (with their boyfriends),” he noted. So they stay where they are with their children.
HOMELESSNESS NOT WHAT SOME MIGHT IMAGINE
Then there are those who do not identify themselves as destitute. Said Mr Chan:
They see homeless people as people with holes in their shirts, depend on the Government for welfare, are dirty and unkempt. Why would they want to declare themselves a destitute person?
This is a point the MSF acknowledges. “Even as we seek to provide support to the needy in our community, there are some who prefer to be self-reliant or decline assistance for other reasons,” said its spokesperson.
Homeless Hearts of Singapore, an informal group of volunteers, has likewise found that homelessness here may not look like what people imagine. (Read our previous story.)
Mr Abraham Yeo, 35, said his group sees individuals who are mainly in their 40s but also as young as their 20s, including the employed.
Some stay overnight in internet cafes in Geylang, for example, and even go online to apply for jobs. “There was once we went, and we found them to be quite good gamers,” said Mr Yeo.
Ben (not his real name), 35, is one who has slept in Lan shops.
Homeless for eight years and working as a banquet waiter for the past eight months “just to make ends meet”, he earned a diploma in tourism last year, hoping it would improve his employment options.
“If you don’t make an effort to stay competitive, then you’re going to become a dinosaur,” he said. “I can actually make a contribution to this world – change it in my own small way.”
If you see someone in need: Call the ComCare hotline (1800 222-0000), or advise the person to approach the nearest Social Service Office or Family Service Centre.
More complex than meets the eye, Singapore’s homeless struggle to find support
By Wong Pei Ting, TODAY, 14 Oct 2017
Homeless people are dirty, lazy, and probably crazy, many may subconsciously think.
This stereotypical image does not seem to fit Singapore’s homeless, going by what a recent survey report found.
In findings released last week, volunteer group SW101 and volunteer welfare organisation Montfort Care revealed that among 180 people found sleeping on the streets one night in Singapore, almost two-thirds of those interviewed have a job, and more than a quarter have a flat to their name. One in four are even married.
The survey did not disclose how the 180 people ended up being homeless.
Over three nights, TODAY found that it was not difficult to spot this group of people: Seven “regulars” sleep at Bras Basah Complex, seven were seen on the campus of the Singapore Management University (SMU) in the Bras Basah district, five are scattered around the Marina Bay area, and six on the Sentosa Broadwalk.
Besides these spaces, there are also those who “built” their own homes with cardboards and plastic sheets on the streets. One man approached by TODAY had been doing that at the back alley of a row of shophouses in the Bugis district for more than 20 years.
Three out of four of those interviewed by TODAY had camped at Bras Basah Complex at some point.
One of them, 57-year-old Robert Au, said that close to 30 people used to spend the night there five years back. Many of them were Malaysians working in Singapore who would rather sleep out than return home, because of the morning traffic jams at the Causeway.
Then, fights used to break out as old-timers stake their claims over the “territory”, Mr Au added. Some of them had since moved to SMU nearby as there are more washrooms available there.
Digging deeper, TODAY uncovered some of the reasons why the four people we interviewed were homeless, and they were linked to difficulties they faced due to housing issues and their personal relationships.
The signs are there that they are “poor” in other ways, be it having poor physical health or having little or no support from family, friends or a community.
One man who had to live with a stranger found that the Government’s rental housing scheme was not working for him, while another is wary of the same scheme after a bad experience with a roommate.
One needed to make some money to support his loved ones living overseas and leased his rental home, while another is estranged from his family and had marriage problems.
RISING ABOVE THE MORNING COMMUTE
Mr Au, a part-time cleaner, works at a condominium on Sentosa island, earning about S$1,200 a month.
He used to live in a rental flat in Woodlands, and to get to work, he had to set off from home “by 5am or 6am”, he said.
“I don’t want to live there. It’s very far... I need to get to work early in the morning,” he added, claiming that bus and MRT trains do not run so early before dawn.
So he decided to camp at Bras Basah Complex, where he acquainted himself with a community of homeless folk.
He did that for five years, and his rental flat in Woodlands is now occupied by his widowed sister, a 64-year-old food-stall helper, and his nephew.
When probed, Mr Au said that he was once evicted from his four-room flat, also in Woodlands, because he and his sister could not repay the bank on their home loan. The repayment amount was S$1,000 a month by instalments.
They could not foot it even after the bank agreed to drop the monthly repayment plan to S$500 for double the interest.
The siblings eventually lost the flat after they deferred payment for six months.
After that, Mr Au tried to apply for a studio apartment, but was told that he did not have enough money in his Central Provident Fund (CPF) account.
He said that he was blacklisted by the banks by then and did not have much savings either to pay a downpayment upfront.
With his dreams to be a homeowner dashed, Mr Au turned to playing the lottery, sometimes spending S$20 a day on 4D and Toto, which is as much as the amount he would spend on food and commute daily.
Some S$300 to S$500 of his income goes to his wife and 15-year-old child who live in Xiamen, China.
Mr Au said: “I get so little salary. A few tens of dollars, I buy some hope.”
Mr Au is not the only one in his family to roam the streets at night.
He disclosed that his 59-year-old brother lost S$300,000 over half a year, gambling at the casino in Marina Bay Sands. The high-roller used his five-room flat in Bukit Panjang as a guarantee for his loan with a moneylender, and lost it.
On his own conundrum, Mr Au said: “This is my problem, but this is also partly the Government’s problem. We continue to become impoverished, and the Government doesn’t seem to care. You want to apply for aid (through their schemes), but they present you with a long list of requirements.”
Mr Au is thinking that the Government could start offering S$20,000 “budget homes” that is toilet-sized, like those that can be found in Hong Kong. “There are now budget airlines, but there are still no budget houses. A studio apartment is still ‘high-class’ here, in the S$100,000 range at an open market price.”
Sleeping outdoors is not ideal, and Mr Au knows it deep in his heart. There are always safety concerns.
In his five years at Bras Basah, his bag was stolen five times, and he was pickpocketed once.
“I see people in even worse conditions than I am. Some can’t walk and pick rubbish to earn some cash. There are so many in Bugis,” he said.
“Social workers cannot help fully. They only pack rice for you, or send you to Angsana Home or a nursing home. This does not solve the issue.”
By Wong Pei Ting, TODAY, 14 Oct 2017
Homeless people are dirty, lazy, and probably crazy, many may subconsciously think.
This stereotypical image does not seem to fit Singapore’s homeless, going by what a recent survey report found.
In findings released last week, volunteer group SW101 and volunteer welfare organisation Montfort Care revealed that among 180 people found sleeping on the streets one night in Singapore, almost two-thirds of those interviewed have a job, and more than a quarter have a flat to their name. One in four are even married.
The survey did not disclose how the 180 people ended up being homeless.
Over three nights, TODAY found that it was not difficult to spot this group of people: Seven “regulars” sleep at Bras Basah Complex, seven were seen on the campus of the Singapore Management University (SMU) in the Bras Basah district, five are scattered around the Marina Bay area, and six on the Sentosa Broadwalk.
Besides these spaces, there are also those who “built” their own homes with cardboards and plastic sheets on the streets. One man approached by TODAY had been doing that at the back alley of a row of shophouses in the Bugis district for more than 20 years.
Three out of four of those interviewed by TODAY had camped at Bras Basah Complex at some point.
One of them, 57-year-old Robert Au, said that close to 30 people used to spend the night there five years back. Many of them were Malaysians working in Singapore who would rather sleep out than return home, because of the morning traffic jams at the Causeway.
Then, fights used to break out as old-timers stake their claims over the “territory”, Mr Au added. Some of them had since moved to SMU nearby as there are more washrooms available there.
Digging deeper, TODAY uncovered some of the reasons why the four people we interviewed were homeless, and they were linked to difficulties they faced due to housing issues and their personal relationships.
The signs are there that they are “poor” in other ways, be it having poor physical health or having little or no support from family, friends or a community.
One man who had to live with a stranger found that the Government’s rental housing scheme was not working for him, while another is wary of the same scheme after a bad experience with a roommate.
One needed to make some money to support his loved ones living overseas and leased his rental home, while another is estranged from his family and had marriage problems.
RISING ABOVE THE MORNING COMMUTE
Mr Au, a part-time cleaner, works at a condominium on Sentosa island, earning about S$1,200 a month.
He used to live in a rental flat in Woodlands, and to get to work, he had to set off from home “by 5am or 6am”, he said.
“I don’t want to live there. It’s very far... I need to get to work early in the morning,” he added, claiming that bus and MRT trains do not run so early before dawn.
So he decided to camp at Bras Basah Complex, where he acquainted himself with a community of homeless folk.
He did that for five years, and his rental flat in Woodlands is now occupied by his widowed sister, a 64-year-old food-stall helper, and his nephew.
When probed, Mr Au said that he was once evicted from his four-room flat, also in Woodlands, because he and his sister could not repay the bank on their home loan. The repayment amount was S$1,000 a month by instalments.
They could not foot it even after the bank agreed to drop the monthly repayment plan to S$500 for double the interest.
The siblings eventually lost the flat after they deferred payment for six months.
After that, Mr Au tried to apply for a studio apartment, but was told that he did not have enough money in his Central Provident Fund (CPF) account.
He said that he was blacklisted by the banks by then and did not have much savings either to pay a downpayment upfront.
With his dreams to be a homeowner dashed, Mr Au turned to playing the lottery, sometimes spending S$20 a day on 4D and Toto, which is as much as the amount he would spend on food and commute daily.
Some S$300 to S$500 of his income goes to his wife and 15-year-old child who live in Xiamen, China.
Mr Au said: “I get so little salary. A few tens of dollars, I buy some hope.”
Mr Au is not the only one in his family to roam the streets at night.
He disclosed that his 59-year-old brother lost S$300,000 over half a year, gambling at the casino in Marina Bay Sands. The high-roller used his five-room flat in Bukit Panjang as a guarantee for his loan with a moneylender, and lost it.
On his own conundrum, Mr Au said: “This is my problem, but this is also partly the Government’s problem. We continue to become impoverished, and the Government doesn’t seem to care. You want to apply for aid (through their schemes), but they present you with a long list of requirements.”
Mr Au is thinking that the Government could start offering S$20,000 “budget homes” that is toilet-sized, like those that can be found in Hong Kong. “There are now budget airlines, but there are still no budget houses. A studio apartment is still ‘high-class’ here, in the S$100,000 range at an open market price.”
Sleeping outdoors is not ideal, and Mr Au knows it deep in his heart. There are always safety concerns.
In his five years at Bras Basah, his bag was stolen five times, and he was pickpocketed once.
“I see people in even worse conditions than I am. Some can’t walk and pick rubbish to earn some cash. There are so many in Bugis,” he said.
“Social workers cannot help fully. They only pack rice for you, or send you to Angsana Home or a nursing home. This does not solve the issue.”
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