S’poreans Turn Old Queenstown Polyclinic Into New Shelter For Stranded M’sians In The Country

‘Home Away From Home’ Project Aims To Help House Malaysians Still Stranded In Singapore

UPDATE (24 Mar): NHCS has since received sufficient donations from the public. They have stopped all appeals for donations sent to 51 Margaret Drive.

MS News would like to express our sincere thanks to all good Samaritans who have contributed to the cause.

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When Malaysia went into lockdown, many Malysians working in Singapore were left stranded without a house. These Malaysians have taken to sleeping in parks, MRT stations, or under bridges, and are subject to the elements and scant security.

Malaysian’s sleeping out in the open at Woodlands MRT
Source

A group of Singapore churches have since kick-started a project to help house these Malaysians stranded without accommodation in Singapore.

Christened ‘Home Away from Home’, the project is a collective effort to seek out affected workers rough-sleeping in public areas and house them in partner shelters.

Home Away from Home plans to provide temporary shelter till 31 Mar, but the project’s duration could be extended depending on future developments.

Brand new facility opened to help house stranded Malaysians

Organisers said in a WhatsApp message that despite The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) organising shelters with private and public organisations, an estimated 100,000 workers are still homeless.

Home Away from Home seeks to find these affected workers and bring them to New Hope Community Services’ (NHCS) newly opened facility Transit Point @ Margaret Drive.

Source

Located at 51 Margaret Drive, the former Queenstown Polyclinic has been designated by MSF as a shelter.

Originally for the homeless and rough-sleepers, NHCS has kindly opened this brand-new facility to stranded Malaysians working in Singapore.

Other shelters join in as well

Apart from the collaboration with NHCS, Home Away from Home is also linking up with other shelters under the LoveSingapore umbrella:

• Living Streams Brethren Church’s BCARE
• Covenant EFC Woodlands
• CPT Training and Camp Centre

This network provides Home Away from Home more options to house affected workers closer to their convenience.

Volunteers & donations needed to help further the cause

As Home Away From Home is non-profit, they are always on the lookout for more volunteers and donations.

Volunteers are currently needed for:

• Contact Canvassing:
  – Identifying and connecting with rough-sleepers (9pm-1am)
  – Recording contact details
  – Directing or transporting rough-sleeper to shelter (preferably with your own vehicle)
  – Follow-up relationship building
• On-site Operations
  – Daily area-cleaning and sanitising (any time from 10am-4pm)
  – Bed-linen laundry
  – Daily breakfast service (6am-8.30am)

To volunteer, please click here.

If you would like to donate instead, they are looking for the following items:

• Bottled water
• Mattresses with bed linen
• Pillows with cases
• Sandwich toaster
• 3-in-one coffee/Milo sachets
• Biscuits
• Instant/cup noodles
• Toilet paper rolls
• Bath towel
• Anti-bacterial shower gel
• Anti-bacterial hand soap
• Hand sanitisers
• Dettol
• Surgical masks
• Mosquito coils
• Laundry detergent
• Standing fans
• Pocket combs
• Sleeping bags
• Toothbrush-toothpaste sets

Please bring your items to Transit Points @ Margaret Drive, 51 Margaret Drive, S149296 between 9am-7pm.

Should you require any further information, you can contact Audrey Tang via email (audrey.tang@coos.org.sg) or phone (68850700).

Let’s all lend a helping hand and help our neighbours through this tough time.

Featured image adapted from Youth.sg.