ABSTRACT
Singapore has a unique housing history. The pursuit, since the 1960s, of the national goal to make Singapore a home-owning society has resulted in a high homeownership rate of close to 90%, with the number of homeless cases kept low. As this chapter explores, for those who are homeless or vulnerable to homelessness, there is a collaborative approach whereby the government works with social service providers, community partners, and the public to provide programmes and assistance. This chapter argues that the Singaporean approach to tackling homelessness can be analyzed as undergirded by and operating according to three key principles: (1) multi-level and multi-pronged, (2) comprehensive and coordinated, and (3) timely and targeted. In examining the Singaporean experience, the chapter identifies the ecosystem of help that exists to address the multifaceted nature of homelessness, from social assistance (financial aid, casework, employment support, etc.) to housing support (shelters, welfare homes, and interim rental housing) and ground-up community initiatives to befriend and support the homeless.
