Data collection

Over the past few weeks we had managed to conduct all our interviews for our research. On the surface it might seem like a menial task to simply ask questions about their living conditions but it has also given me great insight into the challenges these people face. Through our interviews, we were able to delve deeper and gain information that we would not have otherwise gotten from the comfort of our own homes.

We sourced interviewees from The Hiding Place, a Christian Home for drug addicts, ex-convicts, alcoholics and anyone in need of help, and The Ashram, a halfway house to rehabilitate and reintegrate Indian substance abusers into society.

The interviewee from The Hiding Place (name redacted for privacy) was a middle aged divorcee and had taken to drinking after his divorce. He got hooked onto alcohol and slid into depression with thoughts of suicide. After all the nights spent homeless in the Streets, he stumbled across The Hiding Place and decided to go back. The loneliness from the lack of contact with any of his family made him unable to hold down a job and this further aggravated his alcohol abuse.

With his stay at The Hiding Place he feels that he able to put all his problems aside; money is not an issue and meals are provided without fail which a stark contrast to his life prior to entering. He also feels accepted and able to talk about his problems to those who are also living there.

The other interviewee was from The Ashram (name redacted for privacy) and is a 58 year old divorcee with two kids. He has been in and out of prison multiple times for various offences ranging from drug abuse to fighting. Being in prison for over 20 years, he finally decided to put this lifestyle behind him when both of his parents and his brother passed away while he was in prison.

With the help provided to him from the prison supervisors, he was able to find a job as well as being linked up with The Ashram for him to stay while he sources for a rental apartment elsewhere. He is estranged from most of his family who feels that he caused his parents death and thus only two of his sisters still care for him. He feels that the government is doing a great job so far in helping the less fortunate as compared to decades ago and is in fact happy to be staying in The Ashram where he feels love that he is unable to find anywhere else. His plans for now to is be able to earn some money to provide for his children.

I feel that this research has given me the opportunity to interact with people that are rarely talked about in society and also a valuable perspective from the Singaporeans left behind.