Activist urges structured pathway from homelessness to self-reliance

An activist has suggested a five-step program to assist homeless individuals in moving from temporary housing to self-sufficiency, as the government examines current homeless outreach programs. Hartini Zainudin, founder of the Yayasan Chow Kit, proposed the model, which draws inspiration from shelter and reintegration initiatives in New York. This plan would offer increasingly substantial assistance as people accomplish objectives they set with their support staff.

Hartini emphasized that the primary focus should be on identifying the reasons behind homelessness rather than simply moving people off the streets. The initial two stages of the program would tackle immediate requirements such as shelter, medical care, and documentation. Subsequent stages would encompass counseling, expertise training, and customized planning.

The ultimate stages would concentrate on securing employment, preserving stable housing, and attaining financial self-reliance, ultimately contributing to the person's integration into the community.

The activist's proposal emerged following Federal Territories Minister Hannah Yeoh's call for a review of homelessness outreach initiatives over the past three years to pinpoint gaps in support and avert relapses into homelessness. Hartini also proposed a matched-savings scheme where participants would obtain an additional RM100 for each RM100 saved from earned income, up to a predetermined limit, to aid in covering rental deposits or accumulating emergency savings.

The key distinction is that the tiers determine additional opportunities and incentives, not the deservingness of basic aid.

Hartini pointed out that Malaysia's approach to homelessness is fragmented, with insufficient coordination among welfare agencies, local authorities, healthcare providers, and non-governmental organizations. She advocated for a stronger emphasis on preventing homelessness and involving people with experience of homelessness in designing support programs.

Hartini also called for a rights-based approach to homelessness, arguing that Malaysia should acknowledge adequate housing as a basic human right instead of focusing primarily on temporary shelter.

Meanwhile, Khazanah Research Institute research associate K Theebalakshmi called for a rights-based approach to homelessness in Malaysia, arguing that the country should recognize adequate housing as a fundamental right rather than primarily focusing on temporary shelter. She noted that the right to adequate housing is not explicitly recognized as a fundamental right in the Federal Constitution.

Theebalakshmi also called for Malaysia to reconsider its social protection system, which currently centers on cash transfers and social insurance schemes, emphasizing the need to incorporate housing support for vulnerable groups.

Theebalakshmi suggested that this would entail expanding access to secure tenancy and affordable rental housing, alongside job prospects, healthcare, and income assistance to help people maintain stable accommodation.