# Launch of Alliance for Action to help hoarders in Singapore through whole-of-society approach - **Source:** Ministry of National Development - **Published:** 2025-01-21T16:00:00.000Z - **Author:** Ministry of National Development - **Original:** https://www.mnd.gov.sg/newsroom/press-releases/view/launch-of-alliance-for-action-to-help-hoarders-in-singapore-through-whole-of-society-approach - **Topics:** New Launches, Government & Policy, Sustainability & PropTech ## Featured rationale Earlier intervention and coordinated home decluttering may improve safety and living conditions in affected estates, potentially reducing disamenities for occupants and neighbouring households. ## AI summary MND, MSF and key partners launched the 30-member New Environment Action Team as Singapore manages 357 active hoarding cases, up from 253 in December 2021. ## Original article The Ministry of National Development, Ministry of Social and Family Development and key partners have launched an Alliance for Action, named New Environment Action Team (NEAT)[1], to better coordinate hoarding management efforts and build capabilities across the public, people and private (3P) sectors to address hoarding issues in a more holistic and sustainable manner. Hoarding behaviour often stems from complex and deep-seated causes – it could be a symptom of underlying mental health conditions, social isolation, trauma or deep grief. In severe cases, hoarding poses health and safety risks and dis-amenities to the home occupants and neighbours. The underlying motivations for hoarding and availability of family support networks can vary from case to case. With changing demographics including an ageing population, the number of hoarding cases may rise in Singapore. To address this effectively, a whole-of-society approach is needed to identify cases early and intervene upstream in a sustainable manner. Refer to Annex A for more information on ongoing Government efforts to tackle hoarding. NEAT comprises 30 members from government agencies, social service agencies, community groups and private organisations. The members include social service agencies who have extensive experience supporting hoarders and spotting at-risk cases, and community groups experienced in decluttering homes or befriending hoarders. They also include trade and industry associations who want to contribute to decluttering and refreshing homes. Government agencies from the Hoarding Management Core Group (HMCG) will support NEAT as members of the AfA and continue to leverage their regulatory levers to intervene where disamenities are severe. Refer to Annex B for the list of members in this AfA, whose terms of reference are: Coordinate geographical coverage, and optimise available resources and volunteers, to sustainably handle current and future volume of hoarding cases. Tap each other’s expertise and strengths and raise capabilities through sharing of best practices. Promote greater family and community involvement in early identification of potential hoarders, engaging hoarders, supporting decluttering, and prevention of re-hoarding. Develop expertise amongst social service agencies (SSAs) to foster lasting, positive change in hoarders’ psychosocial circumstances and hoarding behaviour. Since January 2024, the Municipal Services Office (MSO) and MSF have been actively engaging and consulting NEAT members, and had joined some of the social service agencies and community groups in their decluttering operations at Boon Lay, Buona Vista and Pasir Ris. All members agreed that a whole-of-society approach can improve the management of hoarding issues within the community. This AfA is a formalisation of these ongoing exchanges and engagements, and the members came up with the name, NEAT. NEAT is co-chaired by Ms Sim Ann, Senior Minister of State for National Development and Foreign Affairs, and Mr Eric Chua, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and Ministry of Social and Family Development. Mr Desmond Lee, Minister for National Development and Minister-in-charge of Social Services Integration is the Advisor to the AfA. “Addressing hoarding in a holistic manner requires us to go beyond just decluttering and refreshing homes. We need to create a robust support system to shift behaviour, strengthen community support, and prevent recurrence. This requires us to build long-term relationships and trust with the affected individuals and their families, and it’s not an easy task. The New Environment Action Team (NEAT) will bring together the collective expertise of its members to better engage families affected by hoarding,” said Minister Desmond Lee. “Hoarding is a complex issue that requires a whole-of-society effort to manage. Each member of the AfA brings unique expertise and experience to the table, and by sharing these insights and learning from one another, we can improve our approach to tackling hoarding. When families and communities are engaged in early identification, intervention, and support, it creates a strong foundation for sustainable change and prevention of re-hoarding,” said Mr Francis Foo, National Director, Habitat for Humanity Singapore. Mr Roy Khoo, Treasurer and Co-Chair of CSR of The Singapore Contractors Association Limited (SCAL), said: “SCAL, with our wide member base of varying expertise, can assist the community groups with repairs and improvement works during decluttering exercises. With upfront planning with other AfA members, SCAL can coordinate and prepare the necessary materials and manpower to refresh affected homes. SCAL will also conduct training sessions for volunteers to paint homes and conduct basic plumbing repairs when they declutter or refresh homes.” The AfA also aims to raise awareness of the hoarding situation in Singapore, as they explore preventive measures to tackle the issue upstream in a sustainable manner. Further updates on the AfA’s initiatives will be shared in due course. Issued By : MND and MSF Date: 21 January 2025 [1] Chinese name: 家居整理行动联盟 Annex A Background information on ongoing Government efforts to tackle hoarding The Government has taken an inter-agency approach to address hoarding because of its complexity and potentially fatal public hazards. The Hoarding Management Core Group (HMCG), led by the Municipal Services Office (MSO), was set up in 2014 to coordinate efforts across agencies and resolve protracted and severe hoarding cases. The HMCG comprises HDB, NEA, AVS, a cluster of NParks, SCDF, MSF, PA, and AIC. HMCG’s assessment of hoarding cases Hoarding cases are surfaced by HMCG agencies, and are assessed and prioritised based on whether there is threat to public health and safety. Agencies will issue orders or take enforcement action on the hoarder or homeowner when established rules and laws are violated. For example, NEA may order the owner to remove items contributing to vector infestations in their home, while SCDF may order the owner to cease hoarding flammable items such as fuel. AVS will also act against the hoarding of animals within a HDB flat where animals are harmed. Separately, Town Councils may require owners to remove hoarding in the common areas. The HMCG considers community and social interventions in tandem with enforcement efforts. If the hoarder is suspected to have mental health issues, the hoarder will be referred to the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) and the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) for professional assessment and treatment. Agencies also work closely with healthcare workers, community partners such as social workers from Family Service Centres, grassroots leaders, volunteers and the hoarders’ family members in a concerted effort to resolve hoarding cases. The HMCG has achieved some progress in managing hoarding cases. As of June 2024, we have managed to reduce the severity of 270 cases of hoarding and are actively monitoring these cases to prevent recurrence. Challenges in managing complex hoarding cases The HMCG is working on another 357 active hoarding cases, up from 253 in December 2021. These complex cases remain protracted and unresolved because it is difficult to gain hoarders’ cooperation to declutter. Frontline officers face real tensions on the ground in balancing between how hoarders choose to upkeep their own home and their neighbours’ enjoyment of their own residences, especially in cases where the clutter does not meet the threshold for public health and safety risks as determined by SCDF and NEA. In such cases, officers need to obtain the cooperation of the hoarder to accede to the decluttering process. This involves repeated engagements, persuasion, and at times, referrals to social workers and/or mental health professionals. We have encountered cases where hoarders refuse to grant access for inspections or cooperate in decluttering efforts. Even when their homes had been successfully decluttered in an earlier attempt, the deep seated issues behind the behaviour may still result in recurrence of hoarding, as behavioural change is unlikely to happen overnight. CDRT mechanisms to address hoarding Affected neighbours can consider filing a case at the Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals (CDRT). If the hoarding has caused unreasonable interference to the neighbours’ enjoyment of their properties, the CDRT can order the hoarder to declutter his unit. If the hoarder ignores the CDRT order, the new Community Relations Unit (CRU) pilot within MSO, which will start operations at Tampines HDB estates from Q2 2025, can apply to the CDRT for an order to enforce the earlier decluttering order. If such an order to enforce is granted by the CDRT, MSO’s Community Relations Officers will be authorised to enter the unit in question, remove and dispose of hoarded material causing unreasonable interference to the neighbours; and take any other actions as specified by the Court. This is a measure of last resort, premised on public interest, after existing regulatory levers from frontline agencies have been exhausted. Notwithstanding the levers available to Government agencies, enforcement is not suitable for all cases. Hoarders’ underlying motivations and family support networks vary from case to case. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, and enforcement is only one of several measures that agencies use to tackle hoarding issues. A whole-of-society approach is thus needed to address hoarding in a more holistic and sustainable manner. Annex B Members of the New Environment Action Team (NEAT) Co-chairpersons: Ms Sim Ann, Senior Minister of State for National Development and Foreign Affairs Mr Eric Chua, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and Ministry of Social and Family Development Advisor: Mr Desmond Lee, Minister for National Development and Minister-in-charge of Social Services Integration Members: S/N Name Designation Organisation Social Services Agencies and Community Groups 1 Yvette Teo Assistant Senior Social Worker Allkin Singapore Ltd. 2 Michael Sim Director Ang Mo Kio Secondary School Social Move Limited 3 Patricia Chia Director, Volunteer Experience Blossom World Society 4 Lee Yanting Head, Care Corner FSC Toa Payoh Care Corner Singapore Ltd 5 Vincent Chia Ministry Staff Covenant Evangelical Free Church 6 Ho Tze Yee Senior Social Worker, Choa Chu Kang Fei Yue FSC Fei Yue Community Services 7 Shirleen Tay Assistant Senior Social Worker Filos Community Services 8 Francis Foo National Director Habitat for Humanity Singapore 9 Steven Goh Founder, Overall Group Leader Helping Joy Ltd 10 Lim Swee Kim Founder Heng Shan Volunteer Group Singapore 11 Adrian Ng CEO HOPE worldwide (Singapore) 12 Fion Phua Founder Keeping Hope Alive 13 Muhammad Afif Arifin Bin Abdullah Senior Manager, Montfort Care Family Service (Kreta Ayer) Montfort Care 14 Nuraida Bte Khalid Senior Centre Manager Persatuan Pemudi Islam Singapura (Singapore Muslim Women’s Association) 15 Victor See Chairman SG Helping Hands 16 Koh Chee Wai Assistant Director Singapore Association for Mental Health 17 Errol Ang Social Worker TOUCH Community Services 18 Khoo Jyh Hao Head of Charity Department Tzu-Chi Foundation (Singapore) Trade Association and Chambers (TACs) 19 Mark Yong Presidential Advisor Singapore Furniture Industries Council 20 Roy Khoo Co-Chair of CSR; Treasurer The Singapore Contractors Association Ltd 21 Spencer Soong Executive Committee Member Waste Management & Recycling Association of Singapore Government Agencies 22 Rebecca Chong Director (Caregiving & Community Mental Health) Agency for Integrated Care 23 Gerald Heng Director (Estate Services & Stakeholders Collaboration) Housing & Development Board 24 Ian Chow General Manager, SSO @ Kreta Ayer & Bukit Merah Ministry of Social and Family Development 25 Tony Teo Group Director (Environmental Public Health Ops Group) National Environment Agency 26 Dr Anna Wong Group Director (Community Animal Management) National Parks Board 27 Toh Lay Hoon Senior Director (Operations Development & Planning) People's Association 28 Ryan Ong Director (Fire Safety Department) Singapore Civil Defence Force 29 Yap Yeow Chern Senior Director, Operations Municipal Services Office, Ministry of National Development 30 Lee Kim Hua Senior Adviser Ministry of Social and Family Development ## Chinese translation > Translation model: grok_cli ### 成立行动联盟，以全社会协作方式协助新加坡囤物者 国家发展部、社会及家庭发展部与主要合作伙伴已启动一项行动联盟，名为「新环境行动团队」（New Environment Action Team，简称 NEAT）[1]，以更好地协调囤物管理措施，并在公共、民间与私营（3P）领域建设能力，以更全面、可持续的方式应对囤物问题。 囤物行为往往源于复杂且根深蒂固的因素——它可能是潜在心理健康状况、社会孤立、创伤或深切哀伤的表征。在严重情况下，囤物会对住户及邻里构成健康与安全风险，并造成居住环境不适（dis-amenities）。 囤物的潜在动机以及家庭支持网络的可及性因个案而异。随着人口结构变化（包括人口老龄化），新加坡的囤物个案数量可能上升。要有效应对，需要全社会协作方式，及早识别个案并在上游进行可持续干预。有关政府持续应对囤物工作的更多信息，请参阅附件 A。 NEAT 由 30 名成员组成，来自政府机构、社会服务机构、社区团体及私营机构。成员包括在支援囤物者及识别高风险个案方面经验丰富的社会服务机构，以及在整理家居或与囤物者建立联系方面有经验的社区团体；亦包括有意协助整理与焕新家居的工商行业协会。 囤物管理核心小组（Hoarding Management Core Group，HMCG）的政府机构将作为行动联盟（AfA）成员支援 NEAT，并继续运用其监管杠杆，在环境不适情况严重时介入。该行动联盟成员名单见附件 B，其职权范围如下： 协调地域覆盖，并优化现有资源与义工，以可持续地处理当前及未来的囤物个案量。 互相借助彼此的专长与优势，并通过分享最佳实践提升能力。 推动家庭与社区更广泛参与：及早识别潜在囤物者、接触囤物者、支援整理，以及防止再次囤物。 在社会服务机构（SSAs）之间发展专长，以促进囤物者在心理社会状况与囤物行为方面实现持久、正面的改变。 自 2024 年 1 月起，市政服务署（Municipal Services Office，MSO）与社会及家庭发展部积极接触并咨询 NEAT 成员，并曾与部分社会服务机构及社区团体一同参与在文礼（Boon Lay）、波那维斯达（Buona Vista）及巴西立（Pasir Ris）的整理行动。全体成员一致认为，全社会协作方式可改善社区内囤物问题的管理。本次行动联盟是对这些持续交流与接触的正式化，成员亦共同提出 NEAT 这一名称。 NEAT 由主管国家发展与外交的高级政务部长沈颖女士，以及主管文化、社区及青年部与社会及家庭发展部的高级政务次长蔡瑞隆先生共同担任联合主席。国家发展部长兼社会服务整合统筹部长李智陞先生为该行动联盟顾问。 「要以全面方式应对囤物，我们需要超越仅仅整理与焕新家居。我们必须建立稳健的支援体系，以改变行为、加强社区支援，并防止复发。这需要我们与受影响个人及其家庭建立长期关系与信任，绝非易事。新环境行动团队（NEAT）将汇集成员的集体专长，更好地接触受囤物影响的家庭，」李智陞部长表示。 「囤物是复杂问题，需要全社会协作才能管理。行动联盟每位成员都带来独特专长与经验，通过分享这些见解并互相学习，我们可以改进应对囤物的方法。当家庭与社区参与及早识别、干预与支援时，便能为可持续改变及防止再次囤物奠定坚实基础，」新加坡仁人家园（Habitat for Humanity Singapore）全国总监 Francis Foo 先生表示。 新加坡建筑商公会（The Singapore Contractors Association Limited，SCAL）财务兼企业社会责任联合主席 Roy Khoo 先生表示：「SCAL 拥有广泛且专长多元的会员基础，可在整理行动期间协助社区团体进行维修与改善工程。通过与其他行动联盟成员提前规划，SCAL 可协调并准备所需材料与人力，以焕新受影响住家。SCAL 亦将为义工举办培训课程，使他们在整理或焕新住家时能粉刷房屋并进行基本水喉维修。」 该行动联盟亦旨在提高公众对新加坡囤物情况的认识，同时探索预防措施，以可持续方式在上游应对问题。有关行动联盟举措的进一步更新将适时公布。 发布单位：国家发展部与社会及家庭发展部 日期：2025 年 1 月 21 日 [1] 中文名称：家居整理行动联盟 附件 A 政府持续应对囤物工作的背景资料 鉴于囤物问题的复杂性及其可能造成致命公共危害，政府采取跨机构方式应对。由市政服务署（MSO）牵头的囤物管理核心小组（HMCG）于 2014 年成立，以协调各机构工作，并解决旷日持久且严重的囤物个案。HMCG 成员包括建屋发展局（HDB）、国家环境局（NEA）、动物与兽医事务司（AVS）、国家公园局（NParks）相关集群、新加坡民防部队（SCDF）、社会及家庭发展部（MSF）、人民协会（PA）以及综合护理局（AIC）。 HMCG 对囤物个案的评估 囤物个案由 HMCG 各机构提出，并依据是否对公共卫生与安全构成威胁进行评估与优先排序。当既定规则与法律被违反时，机构将对囤物者或业主发出指令或采取执法行动。例如，国家环境局可命令业主清除导致家中病媒滋生的物品，而新加坡民防部队可命令业主停止囤积燃油等易燃物品。动物与兽医事务司亦会对在组屋单位内囤养动物且动物受伤害的情况采取行动。此外，市镇理事会可要求业主清除公共区域的囤物。 HMCG 在执法的同时，亦同步考虑社区与社会干预。若怀疑囤物者有心理健康问题，将转介至综合护理局（AIC）及心理健康研究所（IMH）进行专业评估与治疗。各机构亦与医护人员、社区伙伴（如家庭服务中心的社工）、基层领袖、义工及囤物者家属紧密合作，共同努力解决囤物个案。 HMCG 在管理囤物个案方面已取得一定进展。截至 2024 年 6 月，我们已成功降低 270 宗囤物个案的严重程度，并正积极监察这些个案以防止复发。 管理复杂囤物个案的挑战 HMCG 目前另有 357 宗活跃囤物个案正在处理，高于 2021 年 12 月的 253 宗。这些复杂个案仍旷日持久、悬而未决，因为难以取得囤物者配合进行整理。前线人员在实地面对真实张力：如何在囤物者自行维护住家的选择与邻居享有其住所权益之间取得平衡，尤其是在杂物尚未达到新加坡民防部队与国家环境局所界定的公共卫生与安全风险门槛的情况下。 在此类个案中，人员需要取得囤物者配合，才能推进整理程序。这涉及反复接触、劝说，有时还需转介至社工及／或心理健康专业人士。我们曾遇到囤物者拒绝让人进入检查或不配合整理的个案。即使其住家曾在较早尝试中成功整理，行为背后的深层问题仍可能导致再次囤物，因为行为改变不太可能一蹴而就。 社区纠纷解决庭（CDRT）应对囤物的机制 受影响邻居可考虑向社区纠纷解决庭（Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals，CDRT）提出个案。若囤物已对邻居享用其物业造成不合理干扰，CDRT 可命令囤物者整理其单位。若囤物者无视 CDRT 命令，将于 2025 年第二季起在淡滨尼组屋区开始运作的市政服务署新设社区关系单位（Community Relations Unit，CRU）试点，可向 CDRT 申请命令以执行先前的整理命令。 若 CDRT 批出执行命令，市政服务署的社区关系人员将获授权进入相关单位，清除并处置对邻居造成不合理干扰的囤积物品，并采取法院指定的任何其他行动。这是在前线机构现有监管杠杆已用尽后，基于公共利益的最后手段。 尽管政府机构拥有上述杠杆，执法并不适用于所有个案。囤物者的潜在动机与家庭支持网络因个案而异。没有一刀切的解决方案，执法只是机构应对囤物问题的多种措施之一。因此，需要全社会协作方式，以更全面、可持续地应对囤物。 附件 B 新环境行动团队（NEAT）成员 联合主席： 沈颖女士，主管国家发展与外交的高级政务部长 蔡瑞隆先生，主管文化、社区及青年部与社会及家庭发展部的高级政务次长 顾问： 李智陞先生，国家发展部长兼社会服务整合统筹部长 成员： 序号 姓名 职务 机构 社会服务机构与社区团体 1 Yvette Teo 助理高级社工 Allkin Singapore Ltd. 2 Michael Sim 总监 Ang Mo Kio Secondary School Social Move Limited 3 Patricia Chia 总监，义工体验 Blossom World Society 4 Lee Yanting 主管，Care Corner 大巴窑家庭服务中心 Care Corner Singapore Ltd 5 Vincent Chia 事工同工 Covenant Evangelical Free Church 6 Ho Tze Yee 高级社工，蔡厝港飞跃家庭服务中心 Fei Yue Community Services 7 Shirleen Tay 助理高级社工 Filos Community Services 8 Francis Foo 全国总监 Habitat for Humanity Singapore 9 Steven Goh 创办人、总体组长 Helping Joy Ltd 10 Lim Swee Kim 创办人 Heng Shan Volunteer Group Singapore 11 Adrian Ng 首席执行官 HOPE worldwide (Singapore) 12 Fion Phua 创办人 Keeping Hope Alive 13 Muhammad Afif Arifin Bin Abdullah 高级经理，Montfort Care 家庭服务（牛车水） Montfort Care 14 Nuraida Bte Khalid 高级中心经理 Persatuan Pemudi Islam Singapura（新加坡穆斯林妇女协会） 15 Victor See 主席 SG Helping Hands 16 Koh Chee Wai 助理总监 Singapore Association for Mental Health 17 Errol Ang 社工 TOUCH Community Services 18 Khoo Jyh Hao 慈善部主管 Tzu-Chi Foundation (Singapore) 行业协会与商会（TACs） 19 Mark Yong 总统顾问 Singapore Furniture Industries Council 20 Roy Khoo 企业社会责任联合主席；财务 The Singapore Contractors Association Ltd 21 Spencer Soong 执行委员会成员 Waste Management & Recycling Association of Singapore 政府机构 22 Rebecca Chong 总监（照护与社区心理健康） Agency for Integrated Care 23 Gerald Heng 总监（产业服务与持份者协作） Housing & Development Board 24 Ian Chow 总经理，社会服务署 @ 牛车水与红山 Ministry of Social and Family Development 25 Tony Teo 集团总监（环境公共卫生行动集团） National Environment Agency 26 Dr Anna Wong 集团总监（社区动物管理） National Parks Board 27 Toh Lay Hoon 高级总监（行动发展与规划） People's Association 28 Ryan Ong 总监（消防安全部） Singapore Civil Defence Force 29 Yap Yeow Chern 高级总监，行动 Municipal Services Office, Ministry of National Development 30 Lee Kim Hua 高级顾问 Ministry of Social and Family Development