WELFARE SERVICES

In Wesleyan Tradition of Caring for the Poor

Compiled by Pearl Lee, Group Director, Communications and Fund Raising, Methodist Welfare Services

According to a recent study*, Methodists are generally aware of the plight of the poor in Singapore and understand that the circumstances contributing to their poverty are truly beyond their control. While the majority feel that poverty is not a big problem in Singapore, they do acknowledge that there are many in Singapore who are poor.  More than 90% of those surveyed said that they considered a person in poverty if he or she has to seek external help (family, government, loans) in order to eat and live. About half surveyed said that if the person had food and shelter but nothing else, he or she would also be considered poor. 

As for the reasons behind poverty, the most common cited are high medical bills (illness), low educational levels and the lack of jobs or low paying jobs.

The Poor Are Deserving of Help

An overwhelming majority of Methodists surveyed also viewed the poor as willing to work but were not able to earn enough for their living expenses and turned to help from the government or from the community because they really needed it.

Many also feel that the government could spend more to help the poor and think that if enough is done, poverty could be eliminated.

The generosity of Methodists is also shown in the majority who indicated that they would be willing to pay more taxes to help the poor.

In general, Methodists are supportive of a wide range of things that the government could do to help the poor in Singapore, from spending more on housing, to increasing the health subsidy for the poor, tax rebates and job training.

SNAP SHOTS OF METHODISTS’ ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE POOR

*Study on 154 Methodists by Koh Shi En Grace, on Chinese Singaporean Attitudes Towards Poverty and Inequality, thesis in part fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of BSocSci (Honours Social Work), National University of Singapore, 2009/2010.