Evidence-based Advocacy in Action: Improving Access to Public Housing for Single Parents and their Children in Singapore

ABSTRACT

This case study on the Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE) in Singapore relates a simple and powerful tenet of social justice; all children deserve government and social support regardless of their parents’ marital status. Despite single parenthood becoming increasingly common, some single mothers and their children in Singapore face numerous challenges, such as finding suitable housing. Significant factors regarding this may be attributed to the housing policies and regulations that reward traditional families and underserve other forms of family structures. While more than 80 percent of Singapore’s population enjoy access to public housing, unwed mothers seem to be systematically excluded from this entitlement until they reach the age of 35, in addition to other welfare and tax benefits that are consistently awarded to traditional families. Divorced single mothers also often experience poor housing situations and sometimes homelessness, apparently due to excessively stringent eligibility criteria. To address these issues, AWARE conducted “evidence-based” advocacy using a multi-actor and multi-level approach. The method, commitment, and coordination that AWARE has demonstrated may indeed serve as a blueprint for other organizations seeking to assist deserving single parents and their dependents.

ABSTRACT IN JAPANESE

シンガポールの団体 AWARE（Association of Women for Action and Research）によるこのケーススタディは、極めて基本的、且つ有力な社会正義の原理を示唆している。すべてのこどもたちは親の婚姻状況にかかわらず、政府の援助や社会的支援を受けるに値するということである。シンガポールにおいて母子家庭が一般的になっている一方で、シングルマザーとその子どもたちは様々な困難に直面している。特に、自分たちの住居を見つけるのが難しく、その主たる要因はシンガポール政府の排他的な住宅政策と規則といえる。母親と父親、そしてその血族のこどもから成るいわゆる伝統的な家庭が優遇されるなか、これにあてはまらないものは、政策や規定を通じて排斥される。シンガポール人口のおよそ８割が公共住宅に住んでいるが、未婚の母は（３５歳になるまで）公共住宅に住む権利を与えられていない。伝統的な家庭へ通常付与されるその他の税制上や社会保障制度上などの優遇措置の多くからも除外されている。離婚をしたシングルマザーも同じく過度に厳しい適格基準により、過酷な住宅環境に追いやられることが多々あり、ホームレスになる家庭も少なくない。これらの問題を解決すべく、AWARE は様々なパートナーと連携しつつ、さらにコミュニティー、政府などの複数のレベルにおける研究データ（根拠）に基づく政策提言を行った。AWARE の手法やコミットメント、効果的な連携力は、母子家庭とそのこどもたちを支援する他の団体が今後の計画案を作るうえで指針となる可能性がある。

KEYWORDS:

• Single mothers
• housing
• advocacy
• public policies
• gender equality

KEYWORDS:

• シングルマザー
• 住宅
• アドボカシー
• 公共政策
• ジェンダー平等

Acknowledgment

I would like to express my sincere gratitude for Dr. Vivienne Wee, the former Director of Research and Advocacy team and Ms. Corinna Lim, the Executive Director of AWARE for their continuous support, guidance, and inspirational leadership. I would also like to thank Ms. Jolene Tan, Ms. Li Sian Goh, and Ms. Zubee Ali for their dedication, knowledge, and technical expertise contributed to this project. The implementation of the project would not have been possible without the strong support of single parents and their children, volunteers, and partner organizations. I would also like to extend my gratitude to all of these courageous social change agents. Finally, my deepest thanks also go to Dr. Aileen C. Park and Dr. Mala Khullar for providing me the opportunity and mentorship to publish this paper.

Notes on contributor

Megumu Kimoto BROWNSTEIN is a former Project Manager for the Single Parents Housing Research Project and #ASINGLELOVE, an initiative led by AWARE (Association of Women for Action and Research) to support and empower single mothers in Singapore. Prior to joining AWARE in May 2015, she held managerial positions at academic and non-profit institutions in the US. Over the last 15 years of experience in the social work and public health fields, Megumu has been involved in qualitative research, evaluation, policy advocacy, and program management with a primary focus on women’s issues. Megumu holds a dual Masters in Social Work and Public Health from the University of Washington.