Helping families find stability as the stepping stone out of poverty

Singapore’s ambitious plan to uplift low-income families on the ComLink+ scheme starts by helping them achieve some measure of stability in their lives. Under it, low-income families with children get financial incentives and other support if they take steps to better their lives. This is critical as their parents do not have the financial and other resources to focus on their child’s education and development, unlike better-off parents. And boosting social mobility is important, sociologists say, as low social mobility threatens social cohesion. Assistant professor of sociology Shannon Ang of NTU said: “If those who are poorer do not see real ways to move up the socioeconomic ladder despite their best efforts, it will breed a sense of unfairness and the feeling that the system is stacked against them. This will lead them to view others with suspicion, and threaten the country’s ability to tackle important issues together.”

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