By: Samihah.
Homelessness has become a rising concern in Singapore with the current economic downturn. In Singapore, homeless people are often found sleeping in open spaces under housing flats(void decks) and on benches. In our interviews, Singaporeans on the street state that they are not aware of the situation of the homeless in the country.
It also sheds light on organizations which provide shelter and assistance to the homeless. These organizations provide counseling and self- upgrading courses for these homeless people. Two such organizations are 'New Hope 'and 'Children's Society'. However, these efforts do not suffice due to a lack of support and the growing number of homeless people in Singapore. Find out more in the video: 'Homeless in Singapore's Heartlands'.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Getting the story: An account of the events and the scenes of the shoot
By: Jaya Balan .K.
We took photographs of homeless people sleeping in the open spaces of housing estates in Singapore. The photographs were taken in the early hours of the morning as it was easy to identify these homeless people. These homeless people were sleeping on pieces of cardboard and on benches. They had few possessions. We were unable to get interviews from them as they were asleep.
We went to "New Hope Centre", one of two shelters for the homeless. We learnt how the shelter functions. The centre said that there is an increasing number of homeless people in Singapore but not enough accommodations to keep pace.
Finally, we posed a few questions to the public in Singapore. Generally, most Singaporeans were unaware of the extent of homelessness here.
We took photographs of homeless people sleeping in the open spaces of housing estates in Singapore. The photographs were taken in the early hours of the morning as it was easy to identify these homeless people. These homeless people were sleeping on pieces of cardboard and on benches. They had few possessions. We were unable to get interviews from them as they were asleep.
We went to "New Hope Centre", one of two shelters for the homeless. We learnt how the shelter functions. The centre said that there is an increasing number of homeless people in Singapore but not enough accommodations to keep pace.
Finally, we posed a few questions to the public in Singapore. Generally, most Singaporeans were unaware of the extent of homelessness here.
Behind The Scenes - Problems Faced
By: Khai.
One lesson that we learnt during production is that not everything will go as planned. As far as our shoot went, certain factors came into play which affected our shooting. Factors such as the weather, time and even problems with our equipment came into play. However, our contingency plans helped to solve these problems and save time during filming.
The interview segment with the public was done in Marina Square. This segment was real and obtaining answers from the public was part of our main objective. Thankfully, due to our group's efforts, we were able to get the interviews required.
Ultimately, good teamwork and effort ensured that we completed our assigned tasks . Each individual gave his or her best effort and this helped in completing our filming on schedule.
One lesson that we learnt during production is that not everything will go as planned. As far as our shoot went, certain factors came into play which affected our shooting. Factors such as the weather, time and even problems with our equipment came into play. However, our contingency plans helped to solve these problems and save time during filming.
The interview segment with the public was done in Marina Square. This segment was real and obtaining answers from the public was part of our main objective. Thankfully, due to our group's efforts, we were able to get the interviews required.
Ultimately, good teamwork and effort ensured that we completed our assigned tasks . Each individual gave his or her best effort and this helped in completing our filming on schedule.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
In Depth - Global Recession and The Homeless
By: Arafah.
Like most of the countries in the world, Singapore is also experiencing a recession. This global credit crunch has led to people losing their jobs. Jobs are becoming scarce and people find it difficult to pay for their homes. People with very little education or skills would be hit the hardest. This would affect their marriage and their children's education.
These people face a stark reality: losing their homes, their families might disintegrate and they could end up on the streets. Experts predict that it would take about 2 to 6 years for Singapore's economy to recover. Before the economy recovers, the number of homeless people in Singapore is expected to increase. This presents a big problem for all Singaporeans and we need to find conclusive solutions to solve this growing problem.
Like most of the countries in the world, Singapore is also experiencing a recession. This global credit crunch has led to people losing their jobs. Jobs are becoming scarce and people find it difficult to pay for their homes. People with very little education or skills would be hit the hardest. This would affect their marriage and their children's education.
These people face a stark reality: losing their homes, their families might disintegrate and they could end up on the streets. Experts predict that it would take about 2 to 6 years for Singapore's economy to recover. Before the economy recovers, the number of homeless people in Singapore is expected to increase. This presents a big problem for all Singaporeans and we need to find conclusive solutions to solve this growing problem.
Supplementary Links
Supplementary Media
By: Khai.
Links to related sites:
New Hope Community Services
The 'New Hope Community Services' is a shelter that provides services to homeless men and families. Ranging from beds to a home unit for men and families respectively, these facilities will be provided for those who are referred from various community organisations and religious institutions.
An article on New Hope Shelter
A website which shows how various shelters are trying to help tackle the homeless problem in Singapore. This site will show how little Singaporeans know about these shelters. Without knowledge and awareness from society, these shelters receive little help in the long run. This causes financial strains which can limit their reach to the homeless people in Singapore.
By: Khai.
Links to related sites:
New Hope Community Services
The 'New Hope Community Services' is a shelter that provides services to homeless men and families. Ranging from beds to a home unit for men and families respectively, these facilities will be provided for those who are referred from various community organisations and religious institutions.
An article on New Hope Shelter
A website which shows how various shelters are trying to help tackle the homeless problem in Singapore. This site will show how little Singaporeans know about these shelters. Without knowledge and awareness from society, these shelters receive little help in the long run. This causes financial strains which can limit their reach to the homeless people in Singapore.
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