The Limits of Inclusion in a Model City-State: An Interview with Derek Lim on Homelessness in Singapore

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By: Justin Park

Crowd of commuters moving through an underground pedestrian walkway in Singapore

Photo: Bloomberg

The Cost of Progress

We live in a fast-paced society, where individuals often lack the time to pause and look around them. As we rush through our daily schedules—our commutes on world-class public transport systems, heading to globally recognised educational institutions or stable occupations—we fail to look behind us and recognise the individuals surrounding us, blinded by momentum in the relentless demand for success and the climb up meritocratic ladders. In this very chase, we often fail to recognise the depth of social stratification layering our nation.

Oftentimes, we find ourselves, along with millions of other Singaporeans, well on board this expeditious vehicle, taking off too fast to see the individuals still left waiting on the platform. But we see little value in going back. As Singapore continues to climb economic indicators of success, achieve greater levels of social cohesion, further democratise access to higher standards of living, and prosper under stable governance, we are often blinded by this narrative—assuming all is perfect. Yet as the nation continues to rise, the individuals left behind remain hidden, slowly slipping out of the picture.

The Limits of Inclusion

Singapore has the strongest economy in Southeast Asia and consistently maintains one of the lowest unemployment rates in the region. Furthermore, with a globally renowned system of public social housing (HDB, or Housing Development Board), it is difficult to imagine how individuals might fall through the insidious cracks of homelessness. As a result, society often fails to recognise homelessness in Singapore as a prevalent—or even existent—social issue. Instead, it can be seen as an uneasy presence: present, yet difficult to reconcile, lingering ominously behind the nation’s narrative image of order, stability, and success. From certain perspectives, being seen as homeless in Singapore can be stigmatised, precisely because dominant narratives emphasise the presence of robust societal structures and widespread success—reflecting an image in which failure is perceived as difficult under such provisions.

Rather than being openly acknowledged and present in public discourse, homelessness is often absorbed quietly into the background of everyday life. Although homelessness is not outright denied, it is implicitly managed through silence, allowing the broader narrative of cohesion and progress to remain intact, overshadowing imperfections.

Man lying on a bench beside a suitcase at night with Singapore’s central business district skyline in the background.

Photo: Nuria Ling/ TODAY

Beyond Economic Fixes

Recursively, one commonly assumed solution for reintegrating homeless individuals into society is employment. However, beneath this assumption lies a misunderstanding: homelessness carries a range of social and personal complexities that economic measures alone fail to address. Providing employment, or what is perceived as economic stability, may resolve one dimension of homelessness, but it rarely accounts for the broader conditions shaping an individual’s social situation. To understand these circumstances more fully, recognition is required—and dignity begins with having a voice.

Practitioner Insight

At this point, abstraction reaches its limit. To move beyond assumption and narrative, understanding must come from those who encounter homelessness not as a concept, but as a lived, ongoing reality.

Derek Lim is a registered social worker in Singapore with extensive experience in homelessness outreach and casework, having worked across government and community sectors, including frontline engagement with Homeless Hearts of Singapore, and holding formal training in social work from the Singapore University of Social Sciences. Below are responses provided by him during a Homeless Hearts of Singapore outreach session.

Q: Homelessness in Singapore is often described as temporary or marginal. From your experience working with individuals over time, what does that framing miss about the duration and complexity of homelessness?

A: From my experience over the years, what we see is that many homeless friends are homeless for a period of time, then they move on to somewhere else — whether it’s a rental room, a house, a shelter, a workplace, a hostel, or even a friend’s place. If everything is okay, they might stay there for a few months or even a few years.

But after a while, because of conflicts with roommates, financial issues, or other reasons, they move out. Then they become homeless again. So it’s more of a cycle. Once you have housing, it doesn’t mean your problems disappear. You still have rent to pay, bills to manage, and relationships to navigate, which can create new pressures.

Q: You’ve spoken about different forms of homelessness beyond those visibly sleeping in public spaces. How do these distinctions shape our understanding of the issue?

A: Homelessness is not just about people you see sleeping outside. There are also those who are hidden or invisible — staying temporarily with friends, without a stable place. At any time, they can be asked to leave, and then they might end up on the streets or move to another place.

We usually describe this as secondary homelessness. Primary homelessness refers to people sleeping in public spaces. Secondary homelessness refers to those always on the move — friends’ houses, hostels, shelters, workplaces. Tertiary homelessness refers to people at risk of homelessness, such as those facing family violence, financial issues, or unsafe living conditions. All of these are forms of homelessness, but people often only recognise it when someone is visibly outside.

Q: What are the most common assumptions people have about homelessness in Singapore that don’t match what you see on the ground?

A: One common assumption is that everyone sleeping outside has no home to go back to. In reality, many technically have homes — whether it’s their family house, their own flat, or a friend’s place — but they don’t return because of family issues or safety concerns.

Another assumption is that homeless people are dangerous or unsafe. But many of them are actually very kind and compassionate. They mind their own business and just want privacy and safety. There’s also the assumption that all homeless people need help or want help. Some are very independent and content where they are. Many of them also work jobs. That’s why befriending is important — to understand rather than assume.

Q: Although homelessness exists in Singapore, it is rarely openly recognised or discussed. What effect does this have on public understanding?

A: Many people still don’t know that homelessness exists in Singapore. Even if they do know, they don’t really understand why people are homeless or how to help them. Homelessness here is very hidden. Compared to other countries where it’s more visible, in Singapore people tend to hide for safety and privacy. Because of that, it’s harder for awareness to grow.

Q: When homelessness does appear in media or public discussion, what tends to be emphasised, and what is often left out?

A: The emphasis is often on elderly homelessness. That’s what people see most in the media. What is usually left out is secondary homelessness — people staying with friends, moving between places, or always on the move. These individuals are harder to detect because they can be anyone — colleagues, classmates, family members. There are probably many more people like this than we realise, but we don’t talk about them much.

Q: From your experience, what are the most common profiles or situations among people experiencing homelessness? Is it as rare or limited as people sometimes assume?

A: Homelessness can happen to anyone. The people you usually see on the streets are mainly older folks — middle-aged and elderly, I would say, around 40 years old and above.

But in recent years, we’ve been receiving more requests for help from younger homeless friends as well — people in their 20s, 30s, even younger. In the past, we’ve had homeless youths who were around 18 years old reaching out to us.

Some were kicked out of their homes because of family arguments. Others left because of family violence. For example, there was one young woman who ran away from home because a relative abused her, so for safety reasons she left the house. In another case, a young woman in her early 20s became homeless because her parents did not agree with her relationship with her fiancé. Both of them moved out, and she was already three months pregnant. At that time, they were sleeping on staircases.

There are many younger people like this, but the only way to know about them is when they reach out for help. On the streets, you don’t really see them. Either they are not sleeping outside, or they are always on the move — staying temporarily with friends, moving between places.

Because of that, many people assume homelessness mainly affects the elderly. And while it’s true that many homeless individuals are older, there are also many younger homeless people who fall under secondary or tertiary homelessness. These are much more hidden, and that’s why they’re often unseen.

Q: Singapore is often associated with narratives of efficiency, prosperity, and social cohesion. How does homelessness fit within or outside these narratives?

A: Singapore places a strong emphasis on image. In the past, homelessness was rarely discussed publicly. In recent years, there has been more acknowledgement, which is positive.

Homelessness in Singapore exposes the limits of perfective narratives built solely on cohesion, efficiency, and economic success. Addressing it requires not only heightened systems and solutions, but sustained, individualized attention that connects us to the lives that fall between these narratives.

Picture Perfect Project, Article (II)