Added Support for Family Service Centres in Downturn

Mr Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap asked the Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports what are the additional measures and support given to the Family Service Centres (FSC) to meet a possible increase in the number of Singaporeans seeking assistance in an anticipated economic downturn.

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The Minister of State for Community Development, Youth and Sports (Mdm Halimah Yacob) (for the Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports): Mr Speaker, Sir, during the last downturn in 2009, MCYS, together with the National Council of Social Service (NCSS), worked with Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWOs) and Community Development Councils (CDCs) to ensure that Singaporeans are able to receive assistance and access essential social services. To help them cope with increased demands and challenges in fundraising, we provided them more resources, including setting up a $10 million contingency fund for VWOs.

Given the uncertain economic outlook, we have started preparing contingency plans. Should there be another downturn, we will work with and provide more resources to the CDCs and VWOs like the Family Services Centres (FSCs) to step up their services. They will be given greater flexibility to extend financial help and subsidies.

For the FSCs in particular, we will monitor their caseloads very closely and activate additional funding quickly should there be signs of more Singaporeans seeking help. We are also planning to set up a central pool of professional staff who can be deployed to FSCs that see sudden spikes in caseloads.

NCSS will work with CDCs, grassroots organisations, counselling centres, medical social workers and the Samaritans of Singapore to tighten referrals so that those affected by the downturn will be referred to FSCs in a timely manner. Information on FSCs will be provided through touch-points, such as schools and unions. The ComCare Call helpline, which will be expanded, can also direct callers to the nearest FSCs.

Over the next couple of months, NCSS will work closely with the FSCs to refine these plans and to ensure that they are prepared to respond quickly in any downturn.