Let's start or identify a "People self-help Fund" ?
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As government seems to be very parsimonious towards helping citizens despite their suffering taxing and cost recovering system of government which brought about S$200 billion surpluses.
Under such dire circumstances, people should consider setting up a self-help fund as suggested by some forumers at youngpap.
Alternatively people could jointly identify worthwhile charity funds which are neutral to political institutions or parties so that they could donate S$1.00 per month or per annum depending on financial ability to start such a voluntary people self-help movement. From small scale if significantly publicized it could grow when more people spread by words of mouth will make it so.
It can be started as some kind of "people self-help fund". Donation as a start can be small.
Even if the amount is S$1 it is good enough for the purpose is not to collect big amount for any major project but to signal a start of people self-help project.
Eventually over time it will become a good self-reliance or self-help fund of the people by the people without political influence by the MPs or anyone connected to the government, If carefully set up thus maintained with integrity and good corporate governance there will be more people supporting it.
WHO CAN APPLY FOR ASSISTANCE FROM THE FUND
Initially those who are destitute e.g. driven out of their flats by HDB by PS or hospital who cannot pay subsistences or utility or medicare will be able to apply for nominal sum of help from this fund for the period of emergency up to 2 weeks.
If the amount of assistance is not enough the fund could contact more people including philanthropists in other countries or send circulars to community organizations to seek further assistance. -
Thats what steve chia inititated during his nus days...He was praise by then- pm gtc ...I was jus wondering who would contribute to the fund...I will support if its created...
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apply National Council Social Service, apply MCYS, apply IRAS.
then police lic.
double tax deduction system.
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Thanks, we could invite community leaders who are reputable and charitable to preside over such a fund. We would need people like forumers to spearhead or volunteer to man and get paper works done like registration and writing the agencies inside and outside the countries who are neutral and genuinely committed to self-help cause to get the ball rolling.Just keep dropping a line here or pm me.Originally posted by Trump_Card:Thats what steve chia inititated during his nus days...He was praise by then- pm gtc ...I was jus wondering who would contribute to the fund...I will support if its created... -
Yes it will be reputable, accountable and transparent. The volunteers will be committed to such self-help cause. Objectives and procedures will be spelt out and only when subscribed in substance and spirit will it move.Originally posted by zaxis:apply National Council Social Service, apply MCYS, apply IRAS.
then police lic.
double tax deduction system. -
ever try asking some question via MCYS community development council social service group.Originally posted by robertteh:Yes it will be reputable, accountable and transparent. The volunteers will be committed to such self-help cause. Objectives and procedures will be spelt out and only when subscribed in substance and spirit will it move.
what is the data of those rejected by social service department?
In whole Singapore we have not more than 3200 public assistance beneficiary.
every beneficiary received S$260.00 / month, come July 2007, increase S$290.00/mth
so all in all 5 community development council work load is to service less than 3200 beneficiary plus daily new request.
what is the daily new request? how many a day?
office hours 9am till 6 pm
of all 5 community development council, still has many family service centre. FSC, and senior activity centre, SAC.
most SAC has 5 days week lunch @ S$0.50 each meal.
whereas SAC & FSC & VWO's has quota to meet . they need certain quota to justify their present to MCYS.
know of a few VWO's close down. -
Such people's self-help fund will probably have a more symbolic start with more practical objectives which can be attained to meet the starting objectives.Originally posted by zaxis:ever try asking some question via MCYS community development council social service group.
what is the data of those rejected by social service department?
In whole Singapore we have not more than 3200 public assistance beneficiary.
every beneficiary received S$260.00 / month, come July 2007, increase S$290.00/mth
so all in all 5 community development council work load is to service less than 3200 beneficiary plus daily new request.
what is the daily new request? how many a day?
office hours 9am till 6 pm
of all 5 community development council, still has many family service centre. FSC, and senior activity centre, SAC.
most SAC has 5 days week lunch @ S$0.50 each meal.
whereas SAC & FSC & VWO's has quota to meet . they need certain quota to justify their present to MCYS.
know of a few VWO's close down.
I don't foresee that the scale and scope of PSF will be the same or equal to that offered by MCYS because MCYS has the allocated government funds to meet full-scale assistance of family in dire straits.
PSF will be a popular self-help fund which appeals to the community to donate generously to help their own fellow citizens based on a more targeted approach from its set-up philosophy to be established.
Firstly it should address the fill the gap unfulfilled by MCYS as it will offer assistance based on greater flexibility over means tests and circumstances as well as method of assistance. Those exceeding the thresthold incomes slightly can be the target of assistance while those who exceed more or requiring assistance nevertheless can be helped in more flexible way than direct financial assistance. These details can be worked out to make the fund truly practical and meeting the real needs of ordinary families in need of help.
I foresee the most important criterion for success will be the truly altruistic set up of such a fund - to meet the needs of families which could not cope with the present rising costs and nevertheless for a variety of reasons like unemployment or temporary set-up etc were left out due to rigidity of government policies etc.
All these criteria need to be deliberated by the council with details suitably worked out.
Only when carefully set up and established will it move. If not it cannot appeal to the large society enough to make them support the $1 pm or S$1 pa methodology of donation which will gain momentum and level of support.
Let us all continue to work out such principal objectives criteria and details with the contributions and participation by all. -
How about changing the leaders of this fund after a period of time?
Then maybe scandals like those that is bugging NKF now can be avoided. I would surely contribute, IF someone establishes it. -
Council members and president to be elected annually. Thanks. More volunteers needed. Please drop a line here or pm me.Originally posted by Hogzilla:How about changing the leaders of this fund after a period of time?
Then maybe scandals like those that is bugging NKF now can be avoided. I would surely contribute, IF someone establishes it. -
yes good start.
but most people or company donate mostly require IRAS write off.
which mean your "People self-help Fund" must have IPC number.
Please note that with effect from February 09 2007, all Charities and IPCs will need to register, update, renew and terminate their Charity/IPC status at www.charities.gov.sg
and if expose too much they mostly will not take the trouble to donate
CCC's & RC's already trying very hard to get this piece of cake.
they offer short term 6 months or less help.
http://www1.nvpc.org.sg/npo/npoList.asp?s=A -
Such a people self-help scheme will not be the same as the rest which will be tailored to allow donors like companies to claim against taxes though it will be a premium to obtain such status.Originally posted by zaxis:yes good start.
but most people or company donate mostly require IRAS write off.
which mean your "People self-help Fund" must have IPC number.
Please note that with effect from February 09 2007, all Charities and IPCs will need to register, update, renew and terminate their Charity/IPC status at www.charities.gov.sg
and if expose too much they mostly will not take the trouble to donate
CCC's & RC's already trying very hard to get this piece of cake.
they offer short term 6 months or less help.
http://www1.nvpc.org.sg/npo/npoList.asp?s=A
All these set-up issues will need to be worked out and established in its objectives and mission statements so as to answer to all who may raise issues of comparison.
The $1.00 per month or S$1.00 per annum will be so affordable that it is hoped all citizens will eventually come forward to support such a fund because it is so small and affordable. The issue of tax deduction will be less important to such donor.
But the significance of such a donation is immense because such a fund is set up to bridge the gap not being filled by existing government assistance and the actual needs of families in both the lower and middle income groups who for diverse reasons or reality of life are unable to meet their heavy commitments due to dropping incomes, unemployment or other setbacks.
So with such objectives which will be well established in the constitutions, such a fund will receive good support of the ordinary citizen provided we are fortunate to have sufficient dedicated volunteers to kick-start the fund. -
S$1.00 / month = S$12.00 / year
1 headcount / household aka HDB unit = ? HDB unit in Singapore.
sandwich group? why sandwich group?
definition of "sandwich group": those higher than lower income group but lower than higher income group. e.g. Average Gross per capital household income higher than S$1,500.00 but lower than S$2,000.00 . (group A)
or higher than S$1500.00 but lower than S$3000.00 (group B)
how many of group A in Singapore?
how many of group B in Singapore?
usual question? can they sell their 4 room or 5 room? downsize to 3 room? or even rental HDB flat?
Home Ownership Plus Education (HOPE)
# Home Ownership Plus Education (HOPE) is an assistance scheme to help young low income families get out of the poverty trap by providing comprehensive assistance. The scheme aims to enable low income families concentrate their limited resources on education and skills upgrading.
Implementation Date
HOPE was implemented from 1 January 2004.
Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility criteria are:
* Married couples with 1 or 2 children;
* Either the husband or wife must be a Singapore citizen, and the spouse must either be a Singapore citizen or a Permanent Resident of Singapore;
* Monthly household* income of $1,500 or below;
* Age of the wife is 35 years ** or below; and
* Husband is employed.
* For families where at least one spouse has post-secondary education, neither spouse earns more than $1,000 per month each.
** For families where at least one spouse has post-secondary qualification, the wife must be 30 - 35 years old.
Benefits to Approved Applicants
# Each HOPE family will receive the following benefits:
* Educational bursaries, in addition to what is already provided for under Edusave, are as follows:-
Preschool - $250 per annum per child
Primary - $400 per annum per child
Secondary - $800 per annum per child
Junior college/ polytechnic/ITE - $1,200 per annum per child
University - $2,000 per annum per child
Special education - $600 per annum per child
* A housing grant of $50,000. The grant will be disbursed in annual installments into the mother?s CPF account;
* A training grant of up to $10,000 per family over a 10-year period, to enable the parents to attend skills training, divided equally between the parents;
* A one-off cash grant of $1,000 to help the family offset utilities bills;
* Mentoring support to guide the family and help them resolve any problems, and;
* Cash grant of $6,000-$9,000 to help the couples with family life education, family planning and parenting skills. -
The state cannot pay for entire family expenses. VWOs too are unlikely to do so.
The principle of people's self-help fund will have to be set up such that it will evaluate and take into account fundamentals of such a scheme which is more towards relieving hardship and not totally taking care of expenses on dollar-to-dollar basis.
The rationale of setting up a people's self-help fund is prompted by our various forumers' postings regarding our system of government which is based taxing and recovering all possible costs of government services leading people to fend for themselves on two fronts - paying more and more and receiving less and less thereby unable to cope with daily expenses for many families.
Such a fund set up with the objective of helping families falling in such a situation will provide reliefs to the deserving ones falling within such categories which may be many.
Details are important as listed by you by these should not deter people from wanting to help with setting up of such a worthwhile community project.
Indirectly, it will help to find a way out of the current dilema created by a government which is narrowly managing for their own success irrespective of the problems faced by the people due to their taxing and profiteering system. -
who shall run the fund ?
how much shd the ceo be paid ?
why start another fund when there are already so many around ? -
The state cannot pay for entire family expenses. VWOs too are unlikely to do so.
The principle of people's self-help fund will have to be set up such that it will evaluate and take into account fundamentals of such a scheme which is more towards relieving hardship and not totally taking care of expenses on dollar-to-dollar basis.
The rationale of setting up a people' self-help scheme can be seen from our various forumers' postings regarding the current system of government which is one based on taxing and recovering all possible costs of government services with people being left to fend for themselves on two fronts - paying more and more and receiving less and less so every one will have to cope with rising daily subsistence expenses.
Such a fund set up will be targeted initially on deserving ones falling within such categories with some flexibility to be of help.
Details of current assistance amounts required may be quite deterring but if people understand the objective of the scheme they may respond better and offer community help based on $1.00 per month or per annum which may not be too much but when pooled together can be sufficient to launch a self-help project of national significance.
As for how to raise funds and who to target and what amount to help the needy all are important but can be worked out when we have the right no. of people and good set-up objectives and methodology worked out.
When we come to the bridge we will cross it rather than be deterred by such considerations.
Indirectly, such a fund will find a way out of the current dilema created by a government which is self-centredly managing for their own ego and superficial success irrespective of the problems faced by the people due to their taxing and profiteering system. -
Such a fund being a People's Self-Fund Fund of course will not be political and will be run by the people who will choose their own fund manager. I think CEO has a negative connotation as it implies someone who wants to be paid a lot of monies like peanuts.Originally posted by crazy monkey:who shall run the fund ?
how much shd the ceo be paid ?
why start another fund when there are already so many around ?
So to ensure that the fund will get popular support is the number one consideration raison detre of its existence. The amount or donation from each citizen is S$1.00 pm or S$1.00 pa. Additional amounts are welcome and will be a premium but the S$1.00 will send a strong self-help message to all citizens that they could help their own countryman if they are united even with a small token sum.
If we can get past these two initial goals the PSF will have a future and will eventually become a project of the people which will serve as a check on any one-sided policy and an alternative to the current policy of the government based on taxing and recovering all possible costs whatever the suffering to the people. -
The amount or donation from each citizen is S$1.00 pm or S$1.00 pa.
which will work out estimate S$48,000,000.00 each year or S$4,000,000.00 each year.
the question is who is qualify to be "sandwich"?
how much each "sandwich" get? using S$4,000,000.00 divide estimated another Public Assistance (group A) ~ 3200 beneficiary's. = S$1,250.00 pa
or
S$48,000,000.00 divide by Public Assistance (Group B) ~ 3200 = S$1,250.00 pm
how long can each "sandwich" enjoy? same ? till surrender I/C?
also remember to issue these PSF beneficiary's another Poor man VISA card.
present Public Assistance welfare card already has some collection almost S$1000 plus each month. although not monthly they get S$1000 plus, but S$290.00 is confirm. and SP services S$300.00 pa is already in account. use as they deduct scheme .
mostly Foundation's , Fund's, Bank's already had they beneficiary's list,
even chinese temple's has their beneficiary's list.
Church's group also has their beneficiary's list.
Buddhist's group also giving.
Malay group also giving.
SINDA group also giving.
Jamiyah group
CDAC group. -
Zaxis,
I can see that you are concerned with final details of assistance like who are the deserving recipients and the amounts to be dispensed to help such deserving families. These are important detailed considerations.
At this point we have not got started and cannot yet answer all such issues and questions which are valid.
However we need to get enough support - popular support with sufficient volunteers - before we can address these.
For the start-up phase we need to get two important initial goals to be accepted by all volunteers and work towards these first -
(1) Create a People Self-Help Fund which will be popularly supported by the people because of its strong and worthwhile objective which will help to reach out to help solve the immense social problems caused by the current taxing and fullest cost recovery governing system.
Such a scheme will have immense challenges in meeting the dollar and cents needs but without starting there is no knowing what the people could do for themselves. There are many major issues such as determining who are the deserving recipients. Before we go into such details we need to put up good strong and clear criteria for such a scheme to get support and started.
Therefore I have set up the above-stated two initial goals and hope that all interested will subscribe to them and get going when we get enough volunteers. Get more friends and people to come in and sign up to become volunteers.
If we cannot even decide on initial goals or even get enough volunteers at this stage, it will be difficult to talk about such issues or get some such movement going.
lWith strong initial goals we can move next to have meetings and we will be able to overcome lmitations of existing schems for one reason or another which could not help adequately address our immense social problems.
(2) Make the donation amount such that it is affordable to every citizen so that it will become a self-sustainable people's self-help scheme without which citizens will be forever at the mercy of the present system of government.
Once we get past these two initial goals we will seriously draw up the mechanics on how to arrive at the deserving cases and the amounts to be dispensed in such top-up assistance we have in mind.
We must remember not to lose sight of our initial goals otherwise we may get bogged down too early by detailing considerations. -
if started, i volunter $10 a month + small percentage of my company's monthly profits.
you want it to be de-politicised, my preference is to for us to link up with the WP and base ourselves in AMK. -
you write so much but you never say who shd be in charge of the money.Originally posted by robertteh:Such a fund being a People's Self-Fund Fund of course will not be political and will be run by the people who will choose their own fund manager. I think CEO has a negative connotation as it implies someone who wants to be paid a lot of monies like peanuts.
So to ensure that the fund will get popular support is the number one consideration raison detre of its existence. The amount or donation from each citizen is S$1.00 pm or S$1.00 pa. Additional amounts are welcome and will be a premium but the S$1.00 will send a strong self-help message to all citizens that they could help their own countryman if they are united even with a small token sum.
If we can get past these two initial goals the PSF will have a future and will eventually become a project of the people which will serve as a check on any one-sided policy and an alternative to the current policy of the government based on taxing and recovering all possible costs whatever the suffering to the people. -
You should proposed to the government...
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In the proposed set-up, there will be a clearly written constitution passed by all members of the elected council and a board of trustees will take charge of its its funds deposited in banks and other investments while there will be a treasurer responsible for checking and counter-signing of cheques.Originally posted by crazy monkey:you write so much but you never say who shd be in charge of the money.
Such a fund will be subjected to regulations governing charity organizations with auditing of account to fulfill requirements of the authority under the regulations.
Under all these regulations and internal constitutions and controls interest of the public will be duly protected.
The manager who is in charge of the daily running of the fund will be supervised by a council or committee who will be vested with sufficient power to veto any decisions made by the manager and ask for accountability and transparency in the running of the fund.
The manager will be paid a nominal sum in the beginning to cover only his transportation and tangible costs because in the initial period such a fund cannot be viable enough to afford full-time staff and manager.
The fund will have staff only when its interests from donation is able to sustain such staff. It will have to operate with volunteers for some time until the projected donation reaches the level which will pay bank interest to cover such costs.
In other words it is a fund which will draw on the resources of volunteers for initial years.
To assure the public of accountability and transparency, it will require a co-signatory from one of the volunteer auditor beside treasurer so that all donation monies are protected with full integrity. -
I do agree with you
But
without clearly spell out who R the beneficiary's?
how they can be eligible ?
how much they R eligible ?
how long they can be eligible?
and
start collecting PSF's or even talking further PSF's?
quite hard to convince more people come forward, this is not Flag's day,
everyone or mostly high % people on this island, is living quite hard.
mostly earn a living. how many has the extra cash? how many can give up one public transport fare for this cause? -
The Govt will no doubt hijack the fund and place it under the Community Chest.
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1. Gahmen will tax this fund like shyte.
2. People will not commit to this fund, cuz they wun gib a damm.
3. Gahmen will find fault and restrict this fund.
4. Fund managers will get corrupted and becomes NKF numba 2.
so many possibilities.