Breakdown of Rehousing Outcomes of Rough Sleepers by Housing Pathways and Retention Rates, and Publication of PATH Pilot Project Outcomes
Ministry of Social and Family DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns rehousing outcomes for rough sleepers and the evaluation of the Partnership to Tackle Homelessness (PATH) pilot projects. Dr Wan Rizal asked about the number of rough sleepers moving into stable housing by pathway, their 6- and 12-month retention rates, and if PATH project outcomes would be published. Minister Masagos Zulkifli B M M replied that since data was centrally collated in mid-2025, about half of the rough sleepers in the central database moved into stable housing or shelters. He noted that housing pathways include transitional shelters, welfare homes, public rental flats, and returning to families, but data on six- or 12-month retention rates is not available. Minister Masagos Zulkifli B M M added that PATH projects address diverse needs such as employment and social support, so each project will track outcomes relevant to its specific focus rather than a common housing target.
Transcript
29 Dr Wan Rizal asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) in each of the past three years, how many rough sleepers supported by Government-funded or Government-supported programmes moved into stable housing, broken down by housing pathway; (b) what proportions remained stably housed after six and 12 months; and (c) whether these outcomes will be published when evaluating the recently funded Partnership to Tackle Homelessness (PATH) pilot projects.
Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: Prior to the middle of 2025, data on rough sleepers was not centrally collated but resided with different community partners. Based on data gathered since then, about half of the rough sleepers in the central database moved to stable housing and shelter arrangements.
Their housing pathways include transitional shelters, welfare homes, public rental flats or returning to live with their families. We do not have data on the proportion who remained stably housed at the six- or 12-month mark.
Projects under the Partnership to Tackle Homelessness Fund aim to strengthen community partners' capabilities and test new approaches to tackling homelessness. By doing so, the projects will improve partners' ability to support rough sleepers towards better outcomes, including stable housing where relevant. As the projects address different needs, such as employment, work-readiness and social support to those reluctant to seek help, each project will track outcomes relevant to its focus rather than assessed against a common target, such as housing placement or stability.