Speech by Senior Parliamentary Secretary Eric Chua at SleepOut SG 2026

Elder Kevin Lee,
Mr Gasper Tan,
Partners and supporters of New Hope Community Services,
Volunteers and participants of SleepOut SG 2026,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,

1.     A very good evening to one and all.

2.     Most of us know where we will sleep each night. We have somewhere safe to go, rest after a long day, lock the door and put the day behind us. For some in our community, that certainty cannot be taken for granted.

3.     That is why SleepOut SG is important. It invites us to think about, to appreciate and hopefully understand life without a stable home, and also by extension, what then can each of us do to help them.

4.     Now, tonight’s simulation draws on real life, and I think the haze today that we are combating also gives us cause for concern. It’s not just about the health and safety of our participants who sleep out, but it’s also reminding us, “Hey, we may have a choice to sleep in tonight, but our rough sleeping friends don’t”. That is a very real reality. Tonight, I understand you will look for accommodation and work. You will try to manage a limited sum of money. And at the same time, despite having to deal with all this, try to seek help. Along the way, you will face unexpected setbacks.

5.     We are fully aware that one night cannot fully capture all the different dimensions or  experiences of homelessness. But it can hopefully show you why effort alone may not be enough, and why timely and coordinated support is therefore so important.

6.     Behind every person sleeping on the streets is a story that has perhaps yet to be uncovered. So when we listen before we judge, we hope that we can begin to appreciate and understand how we might offer that support that people need.

7.     I am very happy to hear that you have reached our goal of $500,000 for New Hope Community Services and more than 30 people have stepped forward to participate. Thank you for turning concern into action.

8.     Some of us contribute financially. Some of us give up their time and skills, and some open doors through their networks. But together, these contributions can help somebody that is struggling with work, with health, with family relationships, or with money. When several things go wrong at once, finding a way forward becomes so much harder.

9.     A safe place to stay is essential, and so is help with all the difficulties that led to homelessness.
The challenges are connected, and so should our support. The three Memoranda of Understanding we will witness tonight put this into practice. These partners will bring resources, expertise and networks together to help New Hope better support people rebuilding their lives. And that, to me, is the spirit of “Better Starts with Us”: each of us doing our part, and making more possible together. So congratulations to New Hope, as well as to all three MOU partners. 

10.     We also appreciate our partners as well as our donors. Thank you for making this work possible. In my work at MSF, I meet individuals from all walks of life. I see members of lower-income families, youths at risk, persons with disabilities, and even individuals who are selling tissue paper to make ends meet. Their circumstances differ, but supporting each person takes time and commitment, and that is a constant across different scenarios.

11.     Trust grows slowly, and progress is not always a straight line, and  this work takes a generous heart, patience and staying power. It takes not just that spur of the moment passion. It takes commitment to come back week in, week out, to talk to our rough sleeping friends on the streets, to engage them, to fuel them, to build a relationship such that they know that they can trust you, and you can trust them. They trust you when they can pour their hearts out and tell you the truth about what's going on in their life, and you can trust them that they are finally telling their true story, so that I can bring in all the networks of support for them. This work of listening to our rough sleeping friends and understanding their challenges is so important.

12.     And to our volunteers and  professionals on the ground, you work with our government agencies like Social Service Offices, HDB officers, as well as many others to help them find a way forward, and that is a very important piece of work. 

13.     To New Hope’s Board, management and staff, thank you very much for continuing to show up, even when progress sometimes is slow. Your steady presence helps people know they are not alone.
And to everyone participating tonight, thank you for stepping forward.

14.     Before you leave tomorrow, let’s all think about how we can choose one way to stay involved. Speak to New Hope about giving your time, hopefully your resources too, or maybe your organisation’s support. If you ever meet someone sleeping rough, start with a respectful conversation. Listen, and offer to connect them with help. Tomorrow morning, most of us will return home. But let us not forget tonight’s experience. Let us keep working together for those who still need a safe place to call their own.

15.     On that note, thank you very much for being here tonight.

16.     Ever since I started on this piece of work in 2020, I've made it made it a point to at least spend several nights out every year, with our social service agencies, our volunteers on the ground, community groups on the ground, to befriend, to engage, and to talk to rough sleepers. Over time, some of them have become friends. When they see me, they will say, "Oh, you're here again”. And over time, it's so heartening to see that some of their conditions have improved. Some of them have gone on to a better place in life. Of course, some have remained stagnant. And my heart really goes out to those individuals who are still rough sleeping, even though they may not feel so themselves. 

17.     I could share many stories about the many individuals that I meet, and I think I just want to appreciate and salute all those who have been involved in this stream of work. It is really hard and heart work. It's not easy for us to be doing this. 

18.      So thank you once again. Please have a smooth and safe sleep out tonight. Thank you very much.