SINGAPORE — As night falls across the city, volunteers from Homeless Hearts of Singapore are stepping up efforts to engage with people who sleep rough and to challenge common misconceptions about homelessness. 

About once a week, groups of volunteers venture out after dark to reach rough sleepers — individuals who often go unnoticed and whose situations are frequently oversimplified in online narratives. The aim is to build trust and offer friendship and emotional support, rather than merely focusing on material aid. 

According to Derek Lim, volunteer head and outreach coordinator, many people who sleep rough share that family or relationship breakdowns contributed to their situation, and the volunteers’ presence can provide much-needed human connection. 

The outreach work is not always straightforward. Lim explained that younger rough sleepers, who may rotate between friends’ homes or temporary arrangements, can be harder to locate. Older individuals may be easier to find, but they may also be reluctant to accept help immediately, making ongoing relationship-building critical. 

Volunteers often return to familiar locations and also keep an eye out for new rough sleepers, offering support ranging from small gestures like birthday treats to more substantial assistance, including employment or financial help. 

Efforts by volunteer groups such as Homeless Hearts are part of broader community responses to rough sleeping, which include collaboration with social agencies and outreach networks that work together to engage vulnerable individuals respectfully and effectively.