Poverty Alleviation Strategies in Singapore Yap Mui Teng Senior Research Fellow Institute of Policy Studies, Singapore

Prevalence  No official poverty line (as in Hong Kong)  Dept of Statistics Minimum Household Expenditure (MHE) Minimum Household Expenditure (MHE) Half of median per capita household income Half of median per capita household income Information on income distribution but for income from work onlyInformation on income distribution but for income from work only  Different income criteria used for determining eligibility for assistance and in means tests

Prevalence  Estimates vary 2000 on public assistance (late 1990s) 2000 on public assistance (late 1990s) 30,000 households (MTI 1996) 30,000 households (MTI 1996) 120,000 or 4% of resident population (DOS, figure for 1998) 120,000 or 4% of resident population (DOS, figure for 1998) 100,000 households (welfare agencies 2001) 100,000 households (welfare agencies 2001) Prevalence of poverty difficult to know

Poverty Alleviation Strategy  Independence, self – reliance Jobs Jobs Education, skills development/upgrading, training and re- trainingEducation, skills development/upgrading, training and re- training Job creation, investment promotion (attracting foreign investment), entrepreneurship promotionJob creation, investment promotion (attracting foreign investment), entrepreneurship promotion Jobs links, matchingJobs links, matching  Family support Promotion of family values Promotion of family values Legislative, administrative measures (e.g. tax reliefs for caring for parents and CPF top-ups, use of Medisave, Maintenance of Parents Act) Legislative, administrative measures (e.g. tax reliefs for caring for parents and CPF top-ups, use of Medisave, Maintenance of Parents Act)

Poverty Alleviation Strategy  Community Community Development Councils (CDCs) Community Development Councils (CDCs) Voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs) Voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs) Partnership with business, charities Partnership with business, charities  Government Policy maker, planner, regulator and provider Policy maker, planner, regulator and provider

Poverty Alleviation Strategy  ‘Many helping hands’ approach Co-funding Co-funding Fund raising from corporate sector, public Fund raising from corporate sector, public  Emphasis is always on regaining financial independence and preventive (so that the next generation do not fall into the trap of poverty)

Poverty Alleviation Strategy  Financial Assistance Schemes Government schemes, administered by CDCs Government schemes, administered by CDCs Public Assistance Scheme / Special Grant (for PRs)Public Assistance Scheme / Special Grant (for PRs) Interim (Short-term) Financial Assistance Scheme (IFAS)Interim (Short-term) Financial Assistance Scheme (IFAS) Rent and Utilities Assistance Scheme (RUAS)Rent and Utilities Assistance Scheme (RUAS) Home Ownership Plus Education Scheme (HOPE)Home Ownership Plus Education Scheme (HOPE) Work Assistance Programme (WAP)Work Assistance Programme (WAP) Kindergarten Financial Assistance Scheme (KiFAS)Kindergarten Financial Assistance Scheme (KiFAS) Student Care Fee Assistance Scheme (SCFA)Student Care Fee Assistance Scheme (SCFA) Centre-based Financial Assistance Scheme for Child Care (CFAC)Centre-based Financial Assistance Scheme for Child Care (CFAC)

Poverty Alleviation Strategy  “Local” financial assistance schemes introduced by CDCs Disbursed by members of parliament in each ward within CDC Disbursed by members of parliament in each ward within CDC Short term – about 3 months Short term – about 3 months Small quantum – about $200 pm Small quantum – about $200 pm In-kind assistance e.g. food vouchers In-kind assistance e.g. food vouchers

Poverty Alleviation Strategy  Employment, re-employment Skills Development Fund Skills Development Fund Skills Redevelopment Programme Skills Redevelopment Programme Training allowance Training allowance Absentee payroll support Absentee payroll support Self-employment Assistance Scheme Self-employment Assistance Scheme

Role of NGOs  NGOs, particularly the voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs), play a very important role in the provision and delivery of social services in Singapore Religion-based community welfare service organisations e.g. Presbyterian, Methodist, Buddhist, Moral Society, etc Religion-based community welfare service organisations e.g. Presbyterian, Methodist, Buddhist, Moral Society, etc Clan or ethnic based Clan or ethnic based Clan associations long history in SingaporeClan associations long history in Singapore Ethnic self-help groups e.g. Mendaki, SINDA, CDACEthnic self-help groups e.g. Mendaki, SINDA, CDAC

Role of NGOs Others e.g. Rotary Club, Lions Club, etc Others e.g. Rotary Club, Lions Club, etc Philanthropic organisations and foundations – funding e.g. Singapore Pools, Lee Foundation, Shaw Foundation, etc. Philanthropic organisations and foundations – funding e.g. Singapore Pools, Lee Foundation, Shaw Foundation, etc. Important to note: NGOs help all those who seek help from them, regardless of race, language, religion or gender

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