Number and Length of Stay at Crisis Shelters for Abused Women and Their Children

71 Mr Saktiandi Supaat asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) for the past three years, what is the number of cases of abused women and their children who have sought help from the Ministry for temporary shelter; (b) on average, how long did they stay at these shelters; and (c) whether there is a need for more shelters to be set up.

Mr Tan Chuan-Jin: Family Service Centres and Family Violence Specialist Centres assist family violence victims so that they can remain safely with their families and friends. Where necessary, referrals are made to crisis shelters for temporary accommodation.

Over the last three years, an average of 240 abused women and their children sought refuge each year at the four crisis shelters my Ministry funds. Their average length of stay was four months.

As the shelters have sufficient capacity, there are currently no plans to set up more shelters. We will continue to monitor the adequacy of our services.