What happened to the family? 

On August 16, a fire broke out in a Ghim Moh flat, completely destroying the home of a family of 5. At the time of the incident, Mr. Teo and his wife had already left for work, leaving only their 20-year-old son at home. Speaking to the caseworkers, the family shared the harrowing experience of their entire flat being engulfed in flames, resulting in the loss of all their possessions. They expressed profound shock and distress in the aftermath of this devastating incident.

The fire rendered them homeless overnight, necessitating their relocation to temporary housing. Unfortunately, their house was uninsured, leaving them with the daunting task of bearing the full cost of the restoration. The burden of covering the renovation expenses is something beyond the Teo family’s financial capability to shoulder.

How can you help?

The family has raised $20,020 through their families, friends and colleagues. With your contribution, the family hopes to restore their beloved home through raising the remaining $51,143.36* (inclusive of 8% GST) to cover their renovation costs of $71,163.36. 

The cost will cover renovation works for the following:

1. Supply labour to hack all floor area, two toilets and wall/ceiling plaster – $2,500
2. Supply and lay two toilet tiles and toilet accessories – $10,000
3. Cement screeding floor area – $1,800
4. Supply and install vinyl tiles – $2,755
5. Supply and lay kitchen wall tiles – $4,536
6. Supply and lay kitchen floor tiles – $1,962
7. Supply labour and material to plaster wall and ceiling – $7,800
8. Supply and install fire rated partition wall – $2,000
9. Supply and install kitchen bottom cabinet plus mortar base – $2,160
10. Supply and install kitchen table top – $1,920
11. Supply and install master bedroom wardrobe – $2,400
12. Supply and install bedroom door and door frame – $2,040
13. Supply and install half hour fire rated two leaf main door – $1,500
14. Supply labour and material to paint whole house – $2,000
15. Supply labour to clean wall and ceiling – $500
16. Plumbing works (whole house piping and accessories installation) – $2,600
17. Electrical works (include LEW service charges) – $5,140
18. Supply and install window for living, kitchen and three bedroom – $10,269
19. Supply and install two SK door for toilet – $760
20. Supply and install household shelter door – $1,250

*Payment will be made directly to the contractor. 

Your donations would greatly support the family in rebuilding their home.

Find out more / Appeal for Mr. Teo and his family:

Mr. Teo and his wife are both employed as civil servants, supporting their three children aged 15, 20 and 23. Their eldest son is serving National Service, while their middle child is awaiting enlistment. Their youngest is currently in Secondary 3.

During our conversations with the family, caseworkers observed the significant distress they are currently grappling with. Not only do they not have a place to call home, they are also burdened with the renovation costs that greatly exceed their financial means. The recent months leading up to this incident have been tough on the family as they juggled various financial commitments as well as unforeseen costs and financial obligations to their extended family. Prior to the fire, they had just thought that they were out of the woods.  Mr. Teo expressed, “We have been residing in our 4-room purchased flat since 2013. We never anticipated that our family would be faced with such a situation.”

In an instant, their lives were upended, as the fire obliterated most of the home they had painstakingly built over the years. Now residing in temporary housing, in a state of limbo, the family is bracing to face the formidable challenge of starting from scratch. Mr. Teo and his family draw strength from their unity in the face of this crisis, displaying unwavering determination to reclaim what was once theirs, with your support.

The family needs your help urgently to raise the necessary funds for renovation works to commence. Your gift will be vital in helping them rebuild their lives and regain a sense of stability.