Safe and comfortable shelter

Reception staff on duty to register those seeking lodging at Anjung Singgah.

JOHOR BARU: Anjung Singgah, a shelter established by Women, Family and Community Development Ministry here, is known among locals as a place that takes in the homeless.

However, for many --- especially those from outside Johor Baru --- the shelter serves as a halfway house for them to put up temporarily while they look for a job.

For former Anjung Singgah resident Afnan Safuan Ahmad Fuad, 31, the shelter helped him save on accommodation and meals while starting a new job in Singapore.

The food factory supervisor, who hails from Pahang, said he stayed at the shelter for about a month in 2016, back when it was located in Jalan Segget in the city centre.

“Before coming to Johor, I worked at a credit company’s collection department which paid well as it was commission-based.

“After I got married, I was transferred to a different department and the fixed salary was not enough for me to start a family, so I decided to look for a job at a factory in Singapore and planned to commute daily from Johor Baru, ” he said.

Following a successful interview, Afnan was told to start work almost immediately.

“I felt slightly lost then as I did not have the time or know anyone who could help me look for a place to stay in Johor Baru.

“Luckily, a friend told me about Anjung Singgah and I approached the shelter for help, ” the father-of-three told StarMetro.

He said he felt safe and comfortable throughout his stay at the shelter as there were security guards on duty and he could also leave his belongings in a locker while he went to work daily.

“I am more than grateful as I was able to stay there for free for a month and receive free meals while I got used to my new job.

“After receiving my first pay, I found a hostel in Johor Baru and moved out from the shelter, ” he added.

Another former resident, Nor Atikah Mohamad from Selangor, said the shelter was her temporary home for about two weeks after she quit her job in customer service at a bank in the Klang Valley.

After getting a job at a hotel in Singapore, she was told to attend a two-week training programme.

“Initially I was staying at a hotel in Johor Baru where I travelled daily to Singapore for training.

“Then a friend recommended that I check out Anjung Singgah, which offered free stay for job seekers who could not afford their own accommodation.

“At first I was slightly hesitant, thinking that it was a homeless shelter but I was pleasantly surprised by the clean environment and friendly staff, ” said the 27-year-old.

Nor Atikah, who works as a housekeeper at a hotel in Arab Street in Singapore, urged the public not to be embarrassed about seeking help from Anjung Singgah.

“I remember being surprised by the rental rates and house prices in Johor Baru, as they were higher than those in the Klang Valley.

“The free shelter really helped me a lot and its helpful staff also assisted me in looking for an affordable hostel room.

“After the border closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic, I moved into a hostel in Singapore and have not gone back to Selangor since March to see my family, so I miss them very much, ” she added.

The shelter, run by the National Welfare Foundation, moved to Taman Nongchik in March.

The foundation’s southern zone director Nurul Zahrawaini Mohamad Nordan said the number of residents staying at the shelter had gone down by about 80% after the border closure.

She said that in November, the shelter only had one resident, a 33-year-old man from Batu Pahat.

“While waiting to hear from potential employers in Singapore, he took up odd jobs, including at a car wash, in and around Johor Baru. He commuted via free bus service provided by the Johor government.

“He has since found a job across the border and entered the island republic on Dec 12, ” said Nurul Zahrawaini.

She said the shelter was currently home to three residents, including one from Penang.

“Usually, the shelter provides free accommodation and meals to the residents while they look for a job and save up for their own place, which takes them about a month on average.

“But their stay can be extended by up to three months under special circumstances.

“While it is the shelter’s aim to act as a transit home for those who are looking for a job and do not have the means to rent a room, there are many cases where we find it difficult to help, such as the elderly, ill and suspected drug users, ” she said.

She advised those who needed temporary shelter and help looking for a job not to hesitate seeking help at the centre.

The new centre, with the capacity to cater to 22 men and 16 women, is located at No.19-G, 19-1 and 19-2, Jalan Kolam Air 2, Taman Nongchik.

Its facilities include men and women’s dormitories, bathrooms and toilets, common dining area, prayer rooms, counselling and interview areas, a reading corner and computer facilities for job-seeking purposes.

It receives yearly funding from the ministry for its operations.

For details, call 07-221 0997.