Two Singaporeans have started a movement to support families here in opening up their homes to provide refuge for those facing a crisis.
Twenty families have signed up with the Open Home Network, a volunteer movement officially launched in June.
These host families are willing to house those in dire straits, rent-free, for up to one year.
Behind the movement are Mr Kenneth Heng, founder of Solve n+1, a social enterprise that facilitates social innovation for vulnerable communities, and Mr Abraham Yeo, co-founder of Homeless Hearts of Singapore, a charity that helps the homeless.
During the two-month-long circuit breaker, more people needed refuge as they ran into difficulties brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
They include those who lost their jobs and cannot afford to pay rent and those left stranded by Malaysia’s travel restrictions.
Most of the host families live in Housing Board flats, with some in three-room flats. A few had vacant apartments to offer.
The network takes referrals from social service agencies and non-governmental organisations, and both the host family and the person in crisis will meet to gauge if they are comfortable with each other before the person moves in.
Mr Heng said they advise host families to offer shelter to one person or family for up to one year, but the length of stay really depends on the individual’s circumstances and the help needed.
When asked about precautions to keep the coronavirus at bay, Mr Heng said the social workers referring the person in crisis will do the necessary contact tracing and ensure that both host family and guest are healthy with appropriate safe distancing measures.
Mr Lun Wei Ming and his wife Charlene Lie, who are both 31, recently started hosting an 18-year-old teen who needed refuge as his home environment was unsafe for him due to family violence.
Mr Lun, who also works at Solve n+1, said he was initially apprehensive about their safety and security when Mr Heng asked the couple if they could be a host family.
The couple agreed after talking to Mr Lun’s mum, who shared that his grandmother used to shelter those in need in their home in a kampung.
Madam Lie said: “It has been rewarding, although there are also challenges adjusting to another person. Our eyes and hearts have been opened to meet a young person in a crisis.”
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Source: The Straits Times, 4 August 2020