Nearly 300 homeless people have sought help from an aid network during the circuit breaker period, said Minister for Social and Family Development Desmond Lee.
Called Partners Engaging and Empowering Rough Sleepers (PEERS), the network had engaged 65 people when it was formed last July, but less than half of them had accepted help.
PEERS is made up of 26 public agencies, social service agencies and community groups. It manages shelters and provides social intervention for the homeless.
Mr Lee was responding on 4 May to questions from MPs about the support given to the homeless during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said his ministry and PEERS have worked closely with front-line agencies during the circuit breaker to refer homeless people and rough sleepers to shelters and social service offices.
Homeless people will not face circuit breaker penalties if assisted by the Government, he said.
Care packs with hygiene kits have been distributed to the homeless and those on the streets are encouraged to accept shelter.
To meet needs during the circuit breaker, 27 organisations have come on board to provide Safe Sound Sleeping Places (S3Ps), bringing the total number of organisations involved to 35, Mr Lee said.
Such places allow guests to remain during the day and provide meals, and altogether can accommodate about 700 people.
Mr Lee said that a number of PEERS partners are prepared to continue providing space for the homeless even after the circuit breaker.
“Our aim is not only to keep homeless people and rough sleepers safe during the COVID-19 outbreak, but also to help them resolve their underlying challenges and get back on their feet beyond this period,” he said.
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Source: The Straits Times, 5 May 2020