Fatimah: Coordinated approach key to supporting homeless community

SIBU (Feb 10): The Sarawak government has strengthened the management of its Homeless Transit Centres (TTG) with the appointment of new advisory board members at both state and divisional levels, aiming to ensure a more coordinated and comprehensive approach to addressing the needs of the homeless community.

Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said the advisory structure brings together multiple government agencies and strategic partners, each contributing specific expertise to enhance service delivery.

“We have a state-level advisory board overseeing all TTGs, and divisional boards made up of various agencies. In Sarawak, our strategy is always to work as one team, as each agency offers specialised services needed to support our homeless community,” she said.

She was speaking to the media after chairing the TTG Sibu and TTG Kuching Advisory Board Meeting at the Sibu Resident’s Office on Monday.

Fatimah added that two non-governmental organisations (NGOs) managing the centres—Persatuan Kebajikan Syanzi (Sibu) and Hidayah Foundation (Kuching)—have had their service periods extended for another two years.

The extension, she said, recognises their strong performance and high level of empathy in handling complex welfare work.

With the strengthened advisory structure, she said TTG centres now function beyond providing temporary shelter. They also offer health screenings, counselling, skills guidance and job-matching assistance— measures designed to help occupants rebuild their lives with dignity.