More Options Ahead for People with Disabilities to Live Independently

Up to 250 people with low to moderate support needs will join 2 pilot programmes

- Shermaine Ang

More help is on the way for people with disabilities (PWDs) to live independently in the community, with two pilot programmes by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF).

The Enabled Living Programme (ELP) and the Home Support Programme (HSP) will support PWDs with low to moderate support needs to continue living in the community instead of being institutionalised if they do not have caregiver assistance and alternative residential options.

Up to 250 PWDs will take part in the two programmes during the pilot period.

Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Social and Family Development Eric Chua announced the upcoming schemes on March 10 during the debate on his ministry's budget.

He said the HSP's visiting services, in which staff visit PWDs at their homes, will help many PWDs living with ageing caregivers who may be frail and soon unable to care for them. "Without other options, they may end up institutionalised."

For instance, a person with intellectual disabilities may benefit from services such as monitoring and reminder services, coaching on independent living and social skills, and future care planning on how they can live independently after their caregiver dies.

The HSP will start in 2026.

The ELP will help PWDs who are unable to live with their families and need support, such as lower-income PWDs whose aged caregivers have died.

They will live in pairs in public rental flats set aside for the pilot, where they can receive on-site services for daily living, such as basic supervision, financial assistance, and coaching on independent living and social skills.

The ELP will start in the second half of 2025. The four sites for these flats will be confirmed around mid-2025.