Urban Poverty:
Social Insecurity in Singapore

Renowned sociology professor Harold R. Kerbo from California Polytechnic State University defines social inequality as “the condition where people have unequal access to valued resources, services, and positions in the society”.

Social inequality is usually tied to poverty (read more about Urban Poverty here), where a lack of economic resources may exclude low-income individuals from the ability to achieve a decent quality of life for themselves and their loved ones. They may face challenges in everything from education to employment, which affects their ability to ‘move up’ in life.

A 2016 study of 482 low-income individuals by the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) Social Service Research Centre found that 41% were unemployed while 57% were earning less than $1,000 each month, and 71% were staying in HDB rental flats. In addition, nearly half of the participants had education levels below PSLE level or had not received any formal education before.

The study states: “Unless longer term investments are made for skills upgrading and continuous education, they will continue to face limited opportunities in getting higher paying jobs.”

Why is it so hard for these individuals to boost themselves up and break out of the poverty cycle?

It’s important to recognise that the starting lines between the “haves” and “have nots” are unequal to begin with.

The Lien Centre for Social Innovation’s 2015 research study proposes two common contributing factors of increased inequality in Singapore: our economic strategies (such as having ambitious growth rates and a regressive tax system) and our culture of meritocracy.

In our knowledge economy, speed is king. As such, workers who are unable to upgrade their skill sets (despite government skill-upgrading efforts) , due to a lack of resources to begin with, lose out to their higher-skilled or higher-educated counterparts. As a result, they may be left in a state of unemployment.

This is tied to the idea of neoliberalism, an ideology and policy model that “emphasises the value of free market competition” (Britannica) and is “a process that rewards merit and punishes inefficiency”, says political writer George Monbiot.

He adds: “In a world governed by competition, those who fall behind become defined and self-defined as losers.”

In her illuminating book This Is What Inequality Looks Like, Teo You Yenn elucidates the discrimination faced by those living in urban poverty:

There are two prejudices about people who are low income: first, that they have different ‘values’ and ‘mindsets’ - particularly about work ethic and parenting. There is a belief that low-income persons tend to make ‘bad choices’ that perpetuate their poor conditions, particularly when it comes to parenting. Second, that they tend to avoid employment and become reliant on state support. Here the belief is perpetuated through public policies that place ‘dependence’ front and center as that which is to be avoided. Both prejudices are empirically inaccurate and profoundly damaging. (pg 85)

There’s also the issue of social stratification in housing and education which highlights class divides in society – the split between the “elites” and “non-elites”. According to a 2017 study by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Singaporeans who live in public housing have fewer than one friend who lives in private housing. People who attend elite schools are also less likely to have close friendships with those who attend non-elite institutions, and vice versa.

“The lack of social mixing may translate into a lack of empathy for and understanding of those who hail from disadvantaged families… leading to a reluctance to support policies aimed at improving the lots of the lower classes, and contributing towards their welfare,” says NUS Sociologist Professor Tan Ern Ser in this article.

Besides providing financial aid, the government is working to boost the social mobility and security of low-income households by strengthening social assistance programmes. For instance, the ComLink initiative supports families with children living in rental flats by enlisting the help of community groups and volunteers to provide more timely and holistic aid.

The Housing Development Board also launched three Build-to-Order projects – in Woodlands, Bukit Batok and Sengkang – with rental and sold flats within the same block, as part of the government’s plan to enhance social integration for “a more equal and inclusive society”.

Charitable groups and non-profit organisations such as AMKFSC Community Services and Engineering Good support and empower disadvantaged communities in many ways, from preventive and remedial services to digital literacy workshops.

The National Council of Social Service helps facilitate partnerships between social services groups and corporations, from leading banks to telcos to hospitality groups. Initiatives include organising creative fund-raising events to help beneficiaries, such as charity golf events and donation drives.

Then there are ground-up initiatives such as KampungKakis, a neighbourhood buddy system that strengthens neighbourly bonds by matching those in need with volunteers in the vicinity who can help, and Project Stable Staples (PSS) that supports families who are awaiting longer term support from larger and more well-established organisations.

What else can be done?

We should recognise that income inequality in Singapore has improved over the years. A report by the Singapore Department of Statistics revealed that household income inequality in 2021 was at its second-lowest since 2000.

However, uplifting the poor is not just about helping them financially, or figuring out who’s more ‘deserving’ or ‘worthy’ of help. To truly close the gaps, we need to address the underlying issues faced by families and find more sustainable solutions that will help them break the cycle of poverty.

On a more day-to-day basis, we can all play a part to create a more empathetic society.  Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of one’s socioeconomic status.

“Dignity is like clean air. You do not notice its absence unless it is in short supply.” (Teo You Yenn, Page 194)

It’s about recognising that we can all play a part in uplifting the members of our community who struggle with invisible poverty. Find out how else you can be an ally by visiting our Resource Hub.

• A handbook on inequality, poverty and unmet social needs in Singapore (2015)
  
• Inequality and the Social Compact in Singapore by Nathan Peng (2019)
  
• A STUDY ON SOCIAL CAPITAL IN SINGAPORE By the Institute of Policy Studies, National University of Singapore Supported by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (2017)
  
• Elderly Population in Singapore: Understanding Social, Physical and Financial Needs (2015)
  
• Unmet Social Needs in Singapore: Singapore's Social Structures and Policies, and their Impact on Six Vulnerable Communities (2011)
  
• Direct interventions, not just social mixing, needed to narrow housing inequality
  
• TODAY20: The Big Read — Social stratification, a poison seeping into S’pore’s housing estates and schools (2018)
  
• Working with low-income families in Singapore: Proceedings of Social Service Centre (SSR) Conference (2016)
  
• Chronic debt hurts ability of the poor in Singapore to make good decisions: Study (2019)