SINGAPORE: To handle accumulating issues more effectively, the state is partnering social support agencies, community groups and personal organisations to coordinate efforts to manage for behaviours.
The initiative, called the New Environment Action Team ( NEAT ), seeks to bring together expertise and resources from the public, private and people sectors to manage hoarding issues in a more “holistic and sustainable manner”, said the Ministry of National Development and Ministry of Social and Family Development.
Cool comprises 28 people, including social services agencies with expertise supporting hoarders and spotting at-risk instances. Trade and industry associations keen to contribute to decluttering and refreshing homes have also been included, the two ministries said in a press release on Wednesday ( Jan 22 ).
The empire is co-chaired by Senior Minister of State for National Development Sim Ann and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Social and Family Development Eric Chua.
Minister for National Development Desmond Lee, who is also minister-in-charge of social service connectivity, serves as the team’s assistant.
“Addressing accumulating in a systematic manner requires us to go beyond simply decluttering and refreshing properties. We need to produce a strong support system to change behaviour, enhance community support, and prevent frequency, ” said Mr Lee.
NEAT may take up the collective experience of its members to participate families affected by stockpiling, he added.
Hoarding behavior usually stems from sophisticated and deep-seated factors such as mental health conditions, social isolation, stress or deep anguish, the ministers said. Specific motivations for accumulating and the presence of family support systems can vary significantly.
With Singapore’s ageing community and shifting populations, the number of consuming situations is expected to rise. In severe cases, hoarding can make health and safety risks for both inhabitants and neighbours.
As of June 2024, the Hoarding Management Core Group ( HMCG) has reduced the severity of 270 cases of hoarding and is actively monitoring these cases to prevent recurrence.
Nevertheless, it is also working on another 357 effective accumulating circumstances, an increase from 253 in December 2021.
The HMCG, led by the Municipal Services Office ( MSO ), was set up in 2014 to coordinate efforts across agencies and resolve protracted and severe hoarding cases. Federal agencies from the HMCG may help Nice in addressing severe cases and ensuring people health.