Homelessness Learning Forum 2024

Homelessness in Singapore gained centre stage during the COVID-19 pandemic as its reality was made apparent with the increased visibility of rough sleepers, particularly during the Circuit Breaker period. Since then, the amount of support to those experiencing homelessness in Singapore has increased — new shelters, the expansion of the PEERS network, and even the piloting of new kinds of public rental flats to cater to the varying needs of persons with housing instability.

Five years later, in 2024, the ecosystem for the homeless is more robust and coordinated than before. But we are also seeing a shifting of demographics of persons applying for shelters, the emergence of more complex housing barriers and changes in the wider social and economical landscape. It is therefore crucial that this ecosystem is synergised to meet the ever-evolving needs, to ensure an efficient continuum of care and streamlined sources of support for the homeless in the long run.

Ending homelessness does not mean that no one will ever lose their homes, but we envision a future where everyone facing homelessness can get the help they need quickly and effectively — that their experience of homelessness will end for good. We must stay ahead of the curve in order to project and plan for the changing needs and remain relevant and impactful for everyone experiencing homelessness.

HLF2024 will come in two parts - a pre-forum Learning Journey happening in the week of 21 September to 28 September 2024, and the main forum on 10 October 2024, which is also World Homeless Day.

Learning Journeys are guided tours led by organisations and community groups serving people experiencing different forms of homelessness. Participants can sign up to visit sites serving the homeless in Singapore and gain firsthand insights from social service practitioners and people with lived experiences of homelessness themselves.

Details about the Learning Journeys and the main forum can be found in the agenda segment.

Homelessness Learning Forum (HLF) is an annual event spearheaded by New Hope Community Services. The objective of this annual forum is to create a space where social service professionals, partners and interested persons can come learn about this marginalised community in Singapore. As New Hope believes that no one organisation or person is an expert on homelessness, this space aims to kickstart conversations amongst various sectors, agencies, and individuals to enhance learnings about homelessness.

Overall, we hope for HLF to be the main platform in the sector for participants to have conversations on building knowledge, forging connections and innovating solutions that would better serve the homeless community.

New Hope Community Services is a social service agency working to bring change into the lives of the displaced and disadvantaged in the community. Since 2004, we have been empowering our beneficiaries with opportunities to better their own lives. We provide a range of services and programmes such as temporary shelter, casework, mentoring, job-matching, life-skills training and support with long-term housing and employment.

Catholic Welfare Services, Singapore (CWS) is a non-profit, social service agency dedicated to journeying with people in need to live life to the fullest. CWS provides a wide array of programmes in support of a diverse range of beneficiaries, including the youth, adults and families in need, and the elderly.

Bless Community Services is a social service agency (IPC) set up to enable, enrich and empower individuals, families and communities through our holistic social care approaches. One of the main services of BCS is to provide night shelters (Safe Sound Sleeping Places, S3Ps) for the homeless and rough sleepers through the five S3Ps that we operate. BCS has instituted a comprehensive model of care for the stayers focusing on addressing stayers’ overall wellbeing, nurturing meaningful social connections, promoting financial stability and achieving long-term housing solutions.

The foundation of The Girls’ Brigade Singapore was laid by Mrs. Elsie Lyne, who, after joining The Girls' Life Brigade in England, established Singapore's first GB Company at the Methodist Girls' School in 1927. We are an Institution of a Public Character administered by the Ministry of Education and an associate member of the National Council of Social Services.

AWWA Transitional Shelter started in 2018 to support families who have exhausted all means of accommodation, through temporary accommodation and social work intervention to address complex housing and social needs of admitted families to achieve long-term housing stability.

Singapore Anglican Community Services (SACS), formerly the Singapore Anglican Welfare Council (SAWC), is part of the community service arm of the Diocese of Singapore. We provide refuge, relief and rehabilitation for the persons with mental health conditions and people in crisis by providing residential care and day rehab services to them. Through our counselling, case management and rehabilitation, we hope to assist our members to achieve recovery, reintegration into community and an improved quality of life.

Solve n+1 is a community-based management consultancy, providing consulting and implementation support to companies, government agencies, and non-governmental organisations. The Open Home Network is a series of pilot projects managed by Solve n+1. It is a community initiative that seeks to empower members of the community to come together to host and support persons-in-crisis. The heart behind the Open Home Network is to reignite a 21st century version of the Kampung spirit. We hope to witness the strength of what our community can do when we come together to support those in need.

WE CARE is an addiction treatment and education facility that was started in 2005. We treat all addictions, ranging from drugs to alcohol, as well as compulsive behaviours like pornography and gaming. As a secular centre, we provide help and support for persons of all religions and cultures, and their families and significant others, through counselling and recovery support group meetings. We also run a drop-in centre where recovering persons can build positive connections with one another, and with WE CARE recovery guides. Within this safe and non-judgemental environment, our clients are able to work on their recovery.

AMKSS Social Move Limited (AMKSSSM) was founded by Mr Michael Sim, together with some members of the Ang Mo Kio Secondary School (AMKSS) Alumni. AMKSSSM had successfully registered as a Charity organisation under the Charities Act on 11 December 2023. Our objectives are to serve the elderly, homeless and vulnerable in the community through outreach, befriending and providing support such as residential care and food rations. AMKSSSM strongly believes in spreading KAMPUNG SPIRIT among the community, leaving no one behind. We have been doing charity and volunteering work for more than 10 years and begin helping the homeless since 2020. We seek to understand the issues faced by the homeless and help them as much as we can.

Event Venue

Kampung Siglap Lifeskills Training & Retreat Centre, 10 La Salle Street, Singapore, Singapore