Homeless Hearts (Ltd.) (“Homeless Hearts of Singapore / HHOS”) was founded in July 2014 by Abraham Yeo and Mervin Lee. HHOS was officially incorporated as a company limited by guarantee (UEN: 201839495C) and registered as a charity under the Charities Act (Chapter 37) on 21 Nov 2018.
HHOS is a secular homeless befriending group based on Christian values (as the co-founders are Christians). It is open to all – regardless of race, language or religion. We take a relational approach in collaborating with fellow community partners to help our homeless friends navigate the relevant community support systems, and reintegrate into the community.
From a 2-man team serving in 2 central locations in 2014, today, HHOS has grown to about 200+ volunteers serving about 70 homeless friends on the streets per week across 17 locations all around in Singapore. Since 2019, HHOS has been a partner of MSF’s Partners Engaging and Empowering Rough Sleepers (PEERS) network.
Our key strategies are:
- advocating to the public and private sectors in Singapore regarding the importance of homeless / stateless through talks and walks, and,
- befriending the homeless relationally and journeying with them as they navigate the support systems, and,
- collaborating with fellow community partners to help bring holistic care directly to where the homeless are
- demonstrating models and examples of relational befriending for those interested in starting their own initiatives
With increased awareness, infrastructure, and public interest, HHOS now plays the role of:
- An Incubator – Training volunteers and mobilising / equipping / supporting other homeless outreach groups and,
- A Hub – Fostering inter-organisational collaborations to holistically serve homeless persons