KUCHING — Sarawak’s first dedicated Homeless Transit Centre (TTG) began operations at Jalan P. Ramlee on Friday, responding to a 13.68% year-on-year increase in homelessness across the state.
Minister for Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah revealed 133 documented cases in 2024, with Sibu Division (48 cases) and Kuching (19 cases) accounting for over half the total.
The strategically located facility – developed after extensive site evaluations – offers comprehensive rehabilitation beyond temporary shelter. “Accessibility was paramount,” Fatimah stated after signing the operational Memorandum of Agreement.
“We needed urban proximity without stigmatizing isolation.” Services include medical screenings, counseling, skills training tailored to individual aptitudes, job placement support, and transitional housing assistance.
This integrated approach aims to restore independence through personalized recovery plans. “This isn’t merely a roof overhead,” emphasized the minister. “It’s a beacon where lives are rebuilt with dignity.”
The centre’s design facilitates social reintegration, with communal spaces for vocational workshops and counselling sessions addressing root causes like unemployment and family breakdown.
The initiative aligns with Sarawak’s Social Inclusion Framework 2030, which targets a 30% reduction in chronic homelessness through early intervention. KPWK officials confirmed plans for similar facilities in Sibu and Miri by 2026, modeled after Singapore’s successful transit centre network.
