Homeless in the time of Covid-19
Ironically despite there being available spaces from the government and volunteer groups, there are individuals who still prefer to sleep rough
According to a study from last year, there are around 1,000 people living in the streets of Singapore. Homeless people have always been vulnerable, and during the time of a pandemic, when each person is expected to shelter-at-home, there are individuals who still prefer to sleep rough, despite available spaces from the government and volunteer groups.
A recent story from TODAY Online featured several such individuals who are sleeping in the streets during this circuit breaker period. The article quotes Minister for Social and Family Development Desmond Lee as saying recently that there are still 400 available beds in various shelters that answered the call to help house the homeless at this time. One of the people TODAY talked to had difficulty in finding shelter due to his dependency on alcohol, another was an 80-year-old who actually has employment as a dishwasher but who has gotten used to sleeping rough as he has done this for more than two decades. Yet another homeless man, a cleaner who had been estranged from his wife for over a year, had actually been offered shelter at a church. He turned down the offer out of fear he would be brainwashed.
But perhaps the situation of homeless people in Singapore is still relatively better than in other parts of the world. As community transmissions of the coronavirus have been going down steadily—with the Ministry of Health saying this week it’s down to two per day—the homeless in Singapore have a smaller chance of getting infected.
Outdoors and exposed: More beds provided for homeless during circuit breaker, but some still sleeping rough
Despite the heat, Jason (not his real name) wraps himself in a blanket when he sleeps to protect his belongings from being stolen. Photo: Raj Nadarajan/TODAY
For many Singaporeans, the directives to stay home, wash their hands regularly and wear a mask when outside have been hard enough to abide by. For the homeless, these rules are almost impossible. Take Jason (not his real name). All the 37-year-old can think of these days is his limited access to toilets, the six cents left in his bank account and whatever is left of the hand sanitiser placed in the lift at the void deck where he sleeps rough.
Wearing a mask would make his nights even more insufferable than they already are. In this hot weather, his clothes and makeshift cardboard “mattress” are usually soaked with sweat in the mornings. Staying home is not a choice, said Jason, who started sleeping outdoors in November last year after his mother chased him out of their house with a court-issued domestic exclusion order. In his words, life since the circuit breaker kicked in on April 7 has been “worse than a nightmare” for the homeless like him.
TODAY spoke to four people sleeping rough during this circuit breaker, and found a variety of reasons why they are doing so. Some simply have no homes to return to because of life circumstances. Others say they prefer to be outdoors.
Homeless shelters in Singapore mostly full, with 100 people on wait list
With the coronavirus outbreak, more of those who have been sleeping on the streets are asking to go into a shelter.
As the economic and social fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic continues to bite, the 21 temporary shelters for the homeless in Singapore are mostly full and there are about 100 people on the wait list.
These Safe Sound Sleeping Places (S3Ps) are run by community and religious groups, which voluntarily open up their premises to provide short-term refuge to those in need of shelter.
Transit Point: Safe Haven for the Homeless
SLEEPING ON THE STREETS
Until recently, Amir, a private chauffeur, slept along the boardwalk to Sentosa at night — as he has for ten years. On weekends, the 48-year-old Singaporean would take the ferry to Batam, where his wife and two young children live. With a family to provide for, Amir had little extra cash from his salary to spend on rent. And so the boardwalk it was.
Then COVID-19 struck. As case numbers rose in Singapore, those sleeping on the streets, often referred to as "rough sleepers", were encouraged to seek shelter. When Amir was approached by volunteers from Transit Point @ Margaret Drive, a shelter run by New Hope Community Services (NHCS), he decided to take up the opportunity, "to see what was it like to be in a shelter for people like us."
Transit Point is one of five shelters for the homeless run by NHCS. The first, Transit Point @ Spooner, was started by Pastor Andrew Khoo in 2003, to offer temporary housing to ex-offenders. Well before the shelter at Margaret Drive opened amid the pandemic, NHCS had helped more than 900 families and 1,000 individuals.
Bars, dividers make spaces less welcome to homeless: Observers
Public benches with dividers at Kreta Ayer Square. ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE
Public spaces in Singapore have been designed to be unwelcome to the homeless - and as a response to citizens complaining about rough sleepers in their midst, according to architects and experts.
With an uptick in rough-sleeping during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government and community partners have stepped up to build more shelters.
Government data in July revealed that some 800 homeless families and individuals were occupying these shelters.
Support For Homeless And Rough Sleepers During COVID-19
I will address Mr Gan Thiam Poh’s and Mr Murali Pillai’s questions on homelessness in this reply, as well as the question from Ms Anthea Ong, which was filed for tomorrow:
- As the COVID-19 outbreak evolves, ensuring the safety of those who are homeless and rough sleeping is of paramount importance to MSF and the PEERS Network, which stands for Partners Engaging and Empowering Rough Sleepers Network. The PEERS Network currently has 26 members, and includes government agencies, social service agencies and ground-up community groups.
- We have seen an increase in the number of people seeking shelter over the past month. When the PEERS Network was formed in July 2019, less than half of the 65 people engaged were willing to accept help. During the Circuit Breaker, nearly 300 people have come forward so far to seek shelter and assistance, including many who were affected by travel restrictions.
- Since the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020 were effected, we have worked closely with our colleagues in the frontline agencies such as the Police and NParks to refer homeless people and rough sleepers to our shelters, Social Service Offices, and relevant social service agencies for shelter and financial assistance. Those who are homeless will not face penalties under the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020, if they are assisted by us.
Tackling homelessness during a pandemic
Rough sleeping is pushed to the forefront as Singapore tackles a pandemic, while New Hope Community Services enlarges its work to help the homeless.
Homelessness, or rough sleeping, has been in the news more since the onset of Covid-19. From opening doors to Malaysians stranded due to the country’s lockdown, to new shelters unable to take in more due to safe distancing measures – Covid-19 has left a huge impact on the homeless and organisations that help them.
“Before the circuit breaker measures, people may not have noticed homeless persons, and they may not have been disturbed. But now, with the measures for safe distancing in place, and loitering not permitted in public spaces, law enforcers and safe distancing ambassadors approach the rough sleepers,” says Lilian Ong, Director of Social Work at New Hope Community Services (NHCS).
Helping the Homeless during Heightened Alert and Beyond
Since April 2020, Hope Initiative Alliance has been working with the Ministry of Social and Family Development to run two temporal Safe Sound Sleeping Places (S3P) shelters —S3P@Bible House and S3P@Life Centre.
The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected the already vulnerable homeless individuals. With many public areas being cordoned off, some of them no longer have temporary places of refuge; many have struggled to find places to sleep, rest and consume meals. The economic fallout from the pandemic has also exacerbated the plight of the homeless, some of whom have lost jobs and are left without the means or resources to care for themselves.
We ask for your assistance in helping us to provide safe shelter for the homeless during this COVID-19 period, especially with the heightened alert now in place. With your kind donations, we can do the following:
- Cleaning of shelters
- Repair or replace amenities eg. blankets, mattresses etc
- Purchase hygiene products, eg. washing powder, shampoo, body wash, disinfectant etc
- Provide a hot meal daily alongside supplements of dry food and beverages
- Special gifts and celebrations on festive occasions, eg, festive meals, care packs, clothing etc
Sowing Care for the Homeless Amidst COVID-19
SowCare has set up Safe Sound Sleeping Places (S3P) for the homeless at S3P@7 Armenian Street and is working towards setting up another transient shelter at MacPherson. Through this initiative to serve the rough sleepers during the COVID-19 situation, we have been raising funds and collecting in-kind donations to provide them with holistic care through basic essentials, while working to provide them with a permanent roof over their heads. SowCare has been working closely with the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) in setting up these S3Ps.
Aside from S3P shelter at Armenian Street, we are also in the process of setting up a more permanent Transient Shelter at MacPherson. This will also serve as an integrated social service hub for the poor and needy in the neighbourhood. As a member of Hope Initiative Alliance (HIA), SowCare will also be supporting HIA in responding to New Hope Community Services' appeal, to assist in providing holistic care for 200 homeless individuals housed temporarily in HDB estates, through The Innkeepers' Project.
SowCare will assist HIA in rendering services and resources, as well as providing a team of individuals to tend to these homeless individuals, while also handling logistical and administrative tasks. Aside from food, hygiene essentials and medical assistance, we also require mattresses, pillows, blankets, bedsheets, towels, etc. To make in-kind donations and arrange delivery, please contact us at our hotline 6304 3486.
Singapore's hidden homeless
Homelessness exists in Singapore. However, its scale has never been systematically measured. This seminar presents the results from Singapore’s first nationwide count of homeless people sleeping in public places.
Using a combination of two count strategies that gathered observational as well as interview data, the study produced findings on the total number of homeless people, their geographical distribution across 25 districts, demographic profile, living conditions, experience of homelessness, economic situation, health, and access to social support and public services.
These findings can contribute to public understanding of homelessness and guide policy and service planning. They also invite reflection and dialogue on the nature of housing insecurity in our society and what it means to be a part of a community. The event will include the launch of a publicly accessible report of the study’s key findings and a panel discussion. Watch the highlights of the lecture here
How Far Have We Come In Tackling Homelessness In Singapore?
In conjunction with the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty last month on 17th October, we teamed up with local NGOs to highlight stories of poverty and inequality in Singapore in order to raise awareness of these issues.
In 2019, Dr. Ng Kok Hoe (currently Senior Research Fellow at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy) conducted Singapore’s first-ever nationwide study on homelessness. The study found that there were approximately 1000 homeless people in Singapore, some of whom have been sleeping on the streets for more to 6 years because of economic, family, or health reasons. 1 in 4 people whom the team interviewed had one meal, or none at all, for the day.
A year after the report was published, has anything changed? Are government policies more benevolent, wider society more understanding of the problems homeless people face? Now that the pandemic has forced people to shelter at home, where can rough sleepers seek help? In a commentary written for RICE, Dr. Ng reflects on these questions and how Singapore society can make the idea of “home” a reality for everyone.
ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS PROBLEM AS REPORTED IN STUDY OF OVER 1,000 PEOPLE SLEEPING IN THE ROUGH
MSF considers a person to be homeless if he does not have access to housing. This includes people who have no home. It also includes rough sleepers who have homes but face difficulty returning for various reasons such as serious hoarding, or conflict with family members or co-tenants. We seek to assist all homeless people and rough sleepers in need of help, to ensure their safety and well-being.
Homeless people often grapple with multiple complex issues that require Government and community support. However, some of them may not know where to seek assistance; while others may decline help or avoid contact with social services and Government agencies. Therefore, MSF adopts a community-based social work approach to assisting the homeless. Since late 2017, MSF has been partnering various community groups1 and Government agencies in regular night walks so as to better reach out to and engage homeless people and rough sleepers, and share with them that there are shelters and services available. We would refer them to appropriate help agencies that can work with them on their immediate needs as well as underlying issues, so as to improve their circumstances. This collaboration led to the formal launch of the PEERS Network, which stands for Partners Engaging and Empowering Rough Sleepers Network, in July 2019.
Partners in the PEERS Network refer homeless people that they have reached out to and befriended to help agencies and shelters to help them attain stable housing and address other longer-term issues such as employment and family conflicts. MSF funds Social Service Agencies to provide shelter and social support at Transitional Shelters2 to homeless persons who require social work intervention to address their underlying issues. Social workers at the Transitional Shelters work with residents on their financial, employment, health and family issues, and help them to secure long-term stable housing. We aim to help residents at Transitional Shelters move into stable long-term accommodation within six months. An extension of stay can be granted if social workers assess that the residents need more time to work on their issues.
Homelessness in Singapore
"Homelessness exists in Singapore." That's the first thing that Senior Research Fellow at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy Dr Ng Kok Hoe told me when we had a chance to discuss the topic. And it's true. They are just less visible. It's often difficult to distinguish a homeless person from any other member of the public, for a variety of reasons that we'll get into. Dr Ng and his team issued a first of its kind report, "Homeless in Singapore: Results from a Nationwide Street Count," in November of 2019. They estimated there were between 921 and 1,050 street homeless people in Singapore.
Since then, the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic has become a global problem. Singapore announced a stringent set of measures, called a "circuit breaker" on April 7th, 2020, designed to curb the spread of the virus. Singaporeans are urged to stay indoors whenever possible and access to public spaces has been tightly controlled. This has complicated the homeless situation, as rough sleepers are urged to move to shelters that are struggling to cope with the situation.
And as Dr Ng pointed out in a recent interview on Channel NewsAsia, many of Singapore's homeless people have low-wage jobs in the retail and services industries, which have been some of the hardest hit by the pandemic.
related:
Why are people homeless?
The study identified three broad causes of homelessness in Singapore
The first is insecure work and poverty. While 6 in 10 of the homeless people interviewed work — with some holding full-time jobs — they have irregular work and low wages. Common occupations cited included cleaning, odd jobs, security and retail, which are among the lowest-paying occupations in Singapore. Low-wage work can also mean working during odd hours — when public transport is not available. Travelling at this time is expensive, so some opt to sleep near their workplace instead. All these factors expose low-wage workers in particular to the risks of homelessness.
The second cause is the loss of social resources or the breakdown of family support. The study found that nearly 40% of the interviewees had housing in their names, usually public rental housing or purchased flats. But because of family conflicts they were no longer able to live in their homes.
Barriers to accessing housing services make up the third cause. Inadequate housing standards within the public rental sector has been documented as a contributing factor towards homelessness in Singapore. Public rental flats are small and have no separate bedrooms, but must be shared by two single people (who are usually strangers). The flats are affordable, but the lack of privacy and difficulties in getting along with co-tenants are seen as deal breakers for some.
About 290 homeless, destitute people in Singapore given help each year over last 3 years
24-hour fast-food outlets, malls and public parks are some of the places where the homeless sleep at night
About 290 people who were homeless, destitute or sleeping rough in Singapore received assistance from the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) every year on average between 2016 and 2018.
Minister Desmond Lee provided the figure on Wednesday (May 8) in a written parliamentary reply to Nominated Member of Parliament Anthea Ong. She had asked about the number of displaced people on the streets in 2016, 2017 and 2018, the reasons for that and the number of shelters in Singapore. "MSF works closely with government and community agencies, such as HDB and social service agencies to assist homeless families and individuals in need," Mr Lee said.
"Some had sold their flats due to debt or divorce before becoming homeless," he added. "Others may have homes but are unable to return to them for various reasons, such as conflict with their family members or co-tenants. There are also individuals who are unable to work and have no means of support."
related:
Nearly 300 homeless people sought shelter since circuit breaker began: Desmond Lee
Malaysian workers seen sleeping behind the gates of Kranji MRT Station on March 18, 2020. Social and Family Development Minister Desmond Lee said many of the nearly 300 people who had sought shelter were affected by travel restrictions
Nearly 300 homeless individuals have approached the Partners Engaging and Empowering Rough Sleepers (Peers) network to seek shelter since the circuit breaker began on April 7. In contrast, after the Peers network was launched last July to help homeless people, less than half of the 65 individuals it engaged then were willing to accept help. The network comprises the Social and Family Development Ministry, government agencies and community groups.
Minister for Social and Family Development Desmond Lee provided these statistics in Parliament on Monday (May 4) in response to questions from Member of Parliament (MP) for Ang Mo Kio Group Representation Constituency (GRC) Gan Thiam Poh, Bukit Batok MP Murali Pillai and Nominated MP Anthea Ong. Mr Lee said that 27 new organisations have stepped up to offer shelter, including the Housing and Development Board (HDB), which has provided vacant rental flats, and religious organisations that have opened their doors.
These shelters — called Safe, Sound Sleeping Places (S3Ps) — can accommodate about 700 rough sleepers. There are about 400 spaces available now. Many of the nearly 300 people who had sought shelter were affected by travel restrictions, said Mr Lee.
related:
Greater whole-of-society push needed to tackle homelessness
Homelessness is a complex issue that intersects with other social issues such as inequality, mental health, domestic abuse, and elderly financial insecurity, says the author
Homelessness can look like two elderly men shuffling into a void deck after 10pm, carrying what seems to be their life’s possessions in plastic bags. Two policemen on night patrol came, saw them, said “hello uncles” and left them to be. I was there. The homeless may also take the form of a woman in her late 40s.
To make a living, she sells the recycled cardboard that she collects, and occasionally accepts the food distributed by Soup Kitchen Project when she does not make enough in the day to pay for her meals. When she does make enough, she asks for the free food to be given to someone else. I was the one who gave her the food that evening that she didn’t need.
Mariam (not her real name), who attended my inclusive yoga class years back at a welfare organisation in Shunfu, had fled her abusive husband of 18 years. She was too afraid to go back to her flat even after obtaining a Domestic Exclusion Order. With her two children, she stayed in a shelter, although its strict hours means that she occasionally ended up sleeping rough.
related:
How to tackle homelessness in Singapore? Try some empathy for a start
Homelessness today is no longer about begging or being a public nuisance, says the author, noting that many homeless people do have means of subsistence, however fragile
Early last year, when a call for volunteers came for the first nationwide street count of the homeless in Singapore, I was probably one of the first to sign up. As a grant-maker at the Community Foundation of Singapore, I often receive requests to fund research on social issues leading to the presentation of academic papers or journals. I find it hard to translate these into practical applications towards solving critical social problems.
So I became a volunteer, partly to find out more on the state of homelessness in Singapore and partly, to figure out if philanthropy can play a role in making sense of research that enables us to do good in practice. The study opened my eyes to a different side of Singapore. It drove home the point that the facts and statistics we read about the homeless from time to time are not mere digits but fellow persons in our shared space and humanity.
For the study, I had to cover downtown Singapore, thinking it would be an easy job as it did not seem that there would be many sleeping around buildings and shopping malls with security cameras. But what was supposed to be a two-hour walk one night turned to five, due to the sheer number of people sleeping on the streets. I could not keep up with having to type the individual description as required in the study and had to resort to grouping them in order to complete the area in time.
related:
Homeless In Singapore
Homelessness exists in Singapore. But despite growing policy and public attention in recent years, the size of the homeless population in Singapore is not known. This is the first study to
determine the scale of homelessness in Singapore through a nationwide street count.
Homelessness is commonly defined as living in inadequate housing situations. Adequacy has three dimensions: security in terms of tenure, exclusive occupation, and affordability; physical adequacy in terms of amenities, hygiene, safety, and sufficient space; and social adequacy in terms of privacy, control of the use of space, and conduciveness for social relationships. Homelessness affects physical and mental health, reduces economic opportunities, disrupts social relationships, and weakens one’s sense of identity and dignity.
There are different forms of homelessness. In primary or street homelessness, people do not have accommodation and sleep in public spaces not intended for human habitation. Secondary homelessness refers to living in temporary accommodation such as shelters and hostels, or moving frequently because permanent housing is not available. In tertiary homelessness, people live in inadequate accommodation such as overcrowded housing, or may imminently lose their housing due to eviction, violence, or lack of social support.
First-ever count finds 1,000 homeless people in Singapore
A first-ever nationwide study on the scale of homelessness in Singapore was conducted by LKY School
The first nationwide study on the scale of homelessness in Singapore, conducted by a research team from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKY School) at NUS, has revealed that there are between 921 and 1,050 homeless people on Singapore’s streets.
While homelessness occurred in most parts of Singapore, a large majority of the homeless people were older Chinese men, and more instances of homelessness were observed in larger and older estates, as well as in estates with more rental flats. The most common locations with homeless people were public housing void decks and commercial buildings. Their appearances, possessions and environment did not fit simple stereotypes — they could be well-dressed and well-groomed, hold down jobs and could own residential property. The study also found that homeless persons may continue to maintain some connections to their communities and social networks, and help-seeking and encounters with law enforcement agencies were frequent.
Through interviews with some of the homeless people, the team also found out that most of them were Singapore citizens, and had low education. The main reasons for homelessness were economic, family, housing-related and health problems. In addition, homelessness was often chronic — lasting six years or more — irregular work and low pay were common, and poor health and malnutrition were prevalent. Only six in 10 of the interviewees were in work, with the most common occupations being cleaning, odd jobs, security, and retail. The study noted that these are “among the lowest-paying occupations in Singapore”. Of those who receive monthly pay cheques, the median salary was $1,400 per month — far lower than the national median salary of $3,467 in 2018.
One thousand people homeless in Singapore, study shows
Following the release of the study, activist Gilbert Goh organized a food drive to distribute blankets and other essential items to the homeless
A study by the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy found that there are one thousand homeless people in Singapore. Assistant Professor Ng Kok Hoe from the university, along with a team of close to 500 volunteer fieldworkers who covered all 12,000 blocks of residential flats and other public and commercial spaces over a period of three months, found and recorded the numbers of individuals who were asleep or going to sleep in public spaces.
THE HIGHEST COUNTS OF HOMELESS PERSONS WERE REPORTED IN THE CITY, BEDOK AND KALLANG DISTRICTS, THE STUDY FOUND. THERE WERE MORE THAN 50 PERSONS PER DISTRICT.
However, in districts such as Bukit Panjang, Sembawang and Sengkang, there were fewer than 10 persons per district. Dr Ng said, “Despite growing public attention in recent years, the size of the homeless population in Singapore has always been unknown. Measuring homelessness in a systematic and transparent way enables us to provide guidance for policy and service planning”.
47 per cent of homeless people interviewed cited unemployment, irregular work and low wages as reasons for homelessness. Other main reasons for homelessness include family relationship problems and inadequate or inaccessible housing services.
Gilbert Goh 8 November 2019
One thousand Singaporeans are classified as homeless according to a NUS report released today. Many are hidden from the public eye as they try to sleep out in the rough open undetected. According to the report, half hold jobs but they could not afford to own a place.
Join us next Saturday on 16th November at 10.30 PM to distribute blanket, goody bags and food pack to the homeless folks along Kallang, Bugis and Arab St. We may not be able to get them a home but at least we can show them some love. If you are keen to participate in this charitable outreach, please message or email me at goh_gilbert@yahoo.com. This may be the most meaningful three hours of your life!
No one should be left behind.
Poor people in the USA
Homelessness, hunger and shame: poverty is rampant in the richest country in the world. Over 40 million people in the United States live below the poverty line, twice as many as it was fifty years ago. It can happen very quickly.
Many people in the United States fall through the social safety net. In the structurally weak mining region of the Appalachians, it has become almost normal for people to go shopping with food stamps. And those who lose their home often have no choice but to live in a car.
There are so many homeless people in Los Angeles that relief organizations have started to build small wooden huts to provide them with a roof over their heads. The number of homeless children has also risen dramatically, reaching 1.5 million, three times more than during the Great Depression the 1930s. A documentary about the fate of the poor in the United States today.
related:
COVID-19: Singapore enters Phase 2 reopening of 'CB'
Died but not classified as a Covid-19 death
COVID-19: Singapore exits 'Circuit Breakers'
Charged with COVID-19-related offences
COVID-19: Returning to Normalcy
Dormitory Infections Push Singapore Covid-19 Cases to New Record
Singapore activates 'Circuit Breakers' to minimise spread of Covid-19
How Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan are responding to Covid-19
When A Mask Is A Must
COVID-19: Singapore enters new phase of community transmission
Singapore reports first deaths from COVID-19
COVID-19: Deers & Monkeys roaming for food
Was Coronavirus Predicted in 1981 or 2008?
Died but not classified as a Covid-19 death
COVID-19: Singapore exits 'Circuit Breakers'
Charged with COVID-19-related offences
COVID-19: Returning to Normalcy
Dormitory Infections Push Singapore Covid-19 Cases to New Record
Singapore activates 'Circuit Breakers' to minimise spread of Covid-19
How Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan are responding to Covid-19
When A Mask Is A Must
COVID-19: Singapore enters new phase of community transmission
Singapore reports first deaths from COVID-19
COVID-19: Deers & Monkeys roaming for food
Was Coronavirus Predicted in 1981 or 2008?
COVID-19 panic: Why are people stockpiling toilet paper?
COVID-19 fears prompt panic buying across the World
Singapore urges calm after panic buying hits supermarketsCOVID-19 fears prompt panic buying across the World
Singapore reports its first cases of local COVID-19 transmission
Singapore confirms cases of COVID-19 Virus
