In the city-state at the crossroads of Southeast Asia, 9 out of every 100,000 people are homeless: a modest figure that nevertheless clashes with widespread affluence and prosperity. The challenge of structural interventions that go beyond the availability of temporary accommodation, to reduce stigmatization and the creation of ghettos. The commitment of secular and religious organizations, including Catholic Welfare Services.
Singapore () – Relative in number, but significant in proportion to the population, the difficult situation of the homeless in Singapore challenges the authorities and has long launched the charitable initiatives of the archdiocese led by Cardinal William Goh . Given the ethnic characteristics and social and economic dynamics of the Strait of Malacca city-state, the reality of homelessness is largely hidden and certainly less protected at the public level than resources and possibilities would allow. .
It is estimated that the homeless population amounts to 530 people, almost half of that registered during the Covid-19 pandemic. A figure that indicates that 9 out of every 100,000 inhabitants (the population is around 6 million) do not have stable housing and, above all, adequate for their particular conditions. A reality, therefore, that, however limited, seems to clash with the image of prosperity and shared well-being of a society oriented towards productivity and respect for rules. However, it is not an invisible presence, far from it. If viewed with discomfort by the population, who can see their footprints in parks, under overpasses or in other places that can serve as temporary shelter, this reality would require more complex interventions, far beyond the mere occasional provision of shelter.
Various philanthropic organizations, public and private, mostly members of the network The Peersoffer shelter and assistance to the homeless. In turn, the Housing and Development Board is developing types of housing suitable for single people with coexistence difficulties that could be partly allocated to homeless people, either in total autonomy or sharing common services. The main objective identified by those who observe the situation on the street is to avoid isolation, but also the creation of ghettos. At the moment, facilities intended to provide temporary accommodation are primarily overnight initiatives put in place by secular or religious organizations, including Catholic Welfare Services.
However, the lack of alternatives for permanent stays often turns temporary shelters into long-term solutions, despite the essential services present. As shared by the head of the Parliamentary Secretariat for Social and Family Development, in the absence of alternatives, around 60% of the 720 beds available in the seven temporary shelters in operation are occupied on a semi-permanent basis, an average of nine months. A figure that for the authorities indicates how they could become permanent solutions if they are properly equipped and in the absence of overcrowding.
An easily achievable perspective, it is believed, that would avoid social stigma and allow positive cohabitation, but also the direct involvement of those interested in management. Several service operators dedicated to the homeless have already acted in this regard, including New Hope Community Services and Catholic Welfare Services.
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