Challenges of Inter-agency Approach to Tackling Hoarding Issues and Plans to Streamline Enforcement under Single Entity

Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for National Development in light of the Hoarding Management Framework (HMF) led by the Municipal Services Office (MSO) and involving multiple agencies (a) what are the top challenges faced under the current inter-agency approach; and (b) whether the Government will consider streamlining enforcement powers and put the responsibility of tackling all hoarding issues under a single agency to address these challenges more effectively.

Mr Desmond Lee: The inter-agency Hoarding Management Core Group (HMCG) focusses on protracted and severe hoarding cases. Where there are fire safety, public health or animal welfare risks, the Singapore Civil Defence Force, National Environment Agency or National Parks Board will intervene with their regulatory levers. Agencies also work with community partners to engage hoarders and their families to keep up decluttering efforts.

Nonetheless, despite agencies' effort, some hoarders refuse to cooperate. The issue could also recur for a variety of reasons. As a measure of last resort, the upcoming Community Disputes Resolution (Amendment) Bill proposes to empower the Community Relations Unit (CRU) in Municipal Services Office to apply to the Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals (CDRT) to declutter a residential unit, after the CDRT has found the hoarding to be causing unreasonable interference to the neighbours' enjoyment of their properties and the hoarder has failed to comply with the CDRT's order to declutter.

Hoarders' underlying motivations and family support networks vary from case to case. There is no one-size-fits-all solution and enforcement is only one of several measures that the agencies use to tackle hoarding issues. Enforcement is also not suitable for all cases.

A whole-of-society approach is needed to address hoarding in a more holistic and sustainable manner. This entails the Government, social service agencies, community groups, grassroots organisations and the private sector coming together to learn from and tap on each other's strengths and capabilities.