Apart from guest workers and underprivileged communities, the COVID-19 has also affected 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.
In order to care for the rough sleepers amidst the COVID-19 situation, Hope Initiative Alliance (HIA) worked closely with the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) to set up Safe Sound Sleeping Places (S3P), throughout the circuit breaker period. The S3P initiative is spearheaded by MSF, in response to the urgent needs faced by the homeless community, that have been accentuated in the midst of the COVID-19 situation.
As such, HIA partnered SowCare – the charity arm of the Bible Society of Singapore – to set up a temporary shelter for the homeless at S3P@Bible house. We are currently also working towards setting up another transient shelter at MacPherson. Through this initiative to serve rough sleepers, SowCare also raised funds and collected in-kind donations to administer holistic care through basic essentials, while working towards providing them with a permanent roof over their heads.
Reiterating the need to care for these especially marginalised community, Rev. Ezekiel Tan, President of HIA stressed that “while many of us have the opportunity and luxury of staying home and keeping safe, the homeless have the added anxieties of keeping themselves healthy, while making ends meet. We are honoured to have had the ability to work with the MSF and other partners, to care for and remind the homeless that they are not forgotten amidst this trying period. It is only as a united community that we will be able to emerge as a stronger Singapore.”
Should members of the public wish to support the initiatives, individuals may make cash and/or in-kind donations. To make in-kind donations and arrange for delivery, please contact us at our hotline 6304 3486.
PARTNERS
Ecolab
Ministry of Social and Family Development
SowCare
Temasek Trust