Housing Support Can Boost Employment and Income Opportunities
Ensuring stable housing for single mothers is a critical factor in helping them achieve financial stability and better employment, according to a new report by women’s advocacy group AWARE. Released on May 11, the report draws on findings from the Support, Housing and Enablement (S.H.E.) Project, which ran from 2018 to 2021, offering secure housing to 18 low-income single mothers and 21 children.
The initiative highlighted the challenges single mothers face in accessing housing. “The processes, procedures, and paperwork make it difficult and overwhelming,” said Farah (not her real name), a 22-year-old participant. She added, “With programmes like S.H.E., underage unwed mothers could upgrade themselves, secure jobs, and provide for their children.”
Transformative Outcomes of the S.H.E. Project
The project reported several positive outcomes for participants, including:
Securing permanent housing.
Improving employment opportunities and income levels.
Enhancing interpersonal relationships.
Among the 18 mothers, 12 were interviewed quarterly during their stay, which lasted six months or longer. These women, aged 18 to 48, had all experienced domestic abuse. They were housed in a mix of public housing and condominiums sponsored by a donor and received support programmes from AWARE.
Eight of the 12 mothers improved their employment situations, with median monthly income rising from S$500 to S$1,150. Stable housing enabled three mothers to leave jobs with poor conditions, while eight families transitioned to public rental flats, and others found alternative accommodations with family or rented rooms.
The distance from their families also contributed to healthier relationships for some mothers. Elizabeth Quek, the project’s “house mother,” praised their resilience: “In 16 years as a social worker, I’ve never seen individuals transform their lives as quickly and consistently as the S.H.E. residents.”
Policy Recommendations and the Path Ahead
AWARE’s report emphasised the importance of housing in improving family well-being and urged the government to implement measures such as:
Establishing a dedicated HDB unit to assist single-parent families in transition.
Allowing divorced single parents access to HDB loans and levy waivers.
Considering strained or abusive family dynamics when assessing housing applications.
Corinna Lim, AWARE’s executive director, highlighted the vulnerability of underage unwed parents and families with strained relationships. “Stable housing tangibly improves many aspects of family life,” Lim said. “While we celebrate the progress of S.H.E. families, it’s clear that single-parent households in Singapore still face significant challenges to security and quality of life.”
