Update on Expansion of ComLink Initiative and Measures to Ensure Adequacy of Support and Prevent Overlaps of Assistance

Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for Social and Family Development since the expansion of the ComLink initiative last year (a) how many families have received assistance; (b) what are the tangible targets to determine whether a beneficiary receives adequate support; (c) how does ComLink improve coordination between multiple agencies to streamline help for beneficiaries while preventing overlaps of assistance; (d) how many partner agencies dropped out midway; and (e) how does ComLink ensure this disruption to the beneficiary is minimal.

To date, Community Link (ComLink) engagement officers and volunteers have reached out to over 6,800 families and successfully engaged more than 3,800 families to understand their needs, hopes and aspirations. In the course of this outreach, we have identified families with various support needs, including food needs and health issues, and connected them to relevant Government agencies and community partners for prompt support. We are on track to complete our outreach to all 14,000 ComLink families by 2023.

Through ComLink, we pull together support from Government agencies, community partners, corporates and volunteers to empower ComLink families to achieve stability, self-reliance, and social mobility (3 "S"). We do so by partnering each family to co-develop an action plan, based on their goals and aspirations. The Social Service Offices (SSOs) then coordinate with agencies and community partners backend to render the necessary services and interventions to the families. Should there be changes to service providers or partner agencies along the way, the SSOs will step in to ensure that ComLink families do not experience delays or gaps in receiving support.

ComLink tracks every family's progress over time, using short-, medium- and long-term indicators across various domains, such as employment, finance, healthcare and education. In the short term, we focus on making sure the family is Stable – that they are able to meet their basic needs and day-to-day living expenses. In the medium term, we want to support families towards Self-reliance, by building up resources to cushion them from any unexpected episodes. This includes being in stable employment and ensuring the children are progressing well in school. Stability and self-reliance are the building blocks for families to move towards the long-term goal of social mobility – real income growth and the ability to purchase their own homes.

MSF will provide a more detailed update on ComLink at the upcoming Committee of Supply Debate 2022.