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Number of children and youth residing in homes and shelters

Type: Parliamentary Questions

Topic(s): Rehabilitation, Financial Assistance & Social Support, Protection from Domestic Violence

Published on 18 May 2018

18 May 2018

Question

Mr Kwek Hian Chuan Henry
MP for Nee Soon GRC

To ask the Minister for Social and Family Development what is the current number of children and youth under 21 who are currently residing within various children's homes, shelters and other welfare homes and whether this number has increased or decreased over the years.

Answer

1 As of 31 December 2017, there were about 700 children and youth residing in Homes licensed under the Children and Young Persons Act (CYP Homes). This number has decreased over the years, because we are transforming the out-of-home care sector so that more children are placed in foster care rather than homes and institutions.

2 In contrast to the licensed CYP Homes, shelters and welfare homes serve different target groups. Shelters are intended for adults who have exhausted all other means of accommodation or those who face family violence, while welfare homes are intended for destitute persons who are unable to work, have no financial means and do not have accommodation and family support.