ONE HOPE CENTRE is a voluntary welfare organization which seeks to assist members of the public who as a result of gambling are:

  • Facing difficulties managing their finances due to their inability to pay creditors.
  • Harassed by unlicensed moneylenders due to their inability to meet regular payments.
  • Finding difficulties making ends meet due to loss of employment and having to settle for a lesser paying job.

HELP INCLUDES:

  • Helping clients break their gambling habit through tailored programmes.
  • Encourage the restoration of relationships where gambling and other similar activities have traumatized the family unit.
  • Providing support for clients and their families in their distress through the centre helpline, support group meetings and personal counseling.
  • Giving assessments and recommendations on clients’ financial position providing advice on financial planning, budgeting and financial protection.

SCREENING
Almost all who come are in intense state of crisis, confusion and fear. An essential part of One Hope Centre work with debtors is deciding when negotiation with creditors begin. The following will be a guideline for debtors seeking help.

  • The debtors ability to address the root of his problem.
  • The ability to give full disclosure of his debts to his family and all concerned parties.
  • The ability to cooperate fully with the given recommendations.

BACKGROUND
One Hope Centre was birthed out of a group of churches in Geylang concerned about the needs of the Geylang community. Through the years of bonding together in friendship, this group identified the following categories to be their field of concern.

  • Loan shark victims and family members.
  • Sexually abused women and children.
  • Frustrated foreign workers, they started to integrate their resources and efforts.

One Hope Centre officially started operations in August 2004. She didn't interface with the public until the helpline was installed in February 2005. We were seen as doing something which is the first of its kind in Singapore. As a result, the phone line was jammed with numerous calls seeking help from harassment by loan sharks. The support group began and was later develop to become gamblers anonymous. It started because of the overwhelming demand by the public for a listening ear to their problems and a solution to the loan shark harassment.