A one-room flat in Chinatown was found filled with garbage, spider webs, and insect infestations, with the bed containing fecal matter.
About 20 volunteers helped clean the home of a man in his 60s after discovering the poor living conditions.
The volunteer group “Keeping Hope Alive” visited Block 5 at Banda Street in Chinatown on April 20, 2025. They found a one-room flat on the fourth floor in bad shape.
The team spent many hours cleaning the place.
The group’s founder, Fion Phua, led members on door-to-door visits to find residents needing help.
Team members knocked on the man’s door and saw his home needed immediate attention. They told Phua right away.
“The flat was in bad shape, with dirt and trash everywhere, plus poop and pee stains on the bed and floor. We started cleaning at once,” Phua said.
Photos and videos showed the man’s home in terrible shape.
Items piled up like mountains—old clothes, newspapers, plastic bags, and bicycle tires covered the floor, leaving almost no walking space.
Spider webs hung throughout the flat. The sink was badly clogged. Fruit in the fridge had rotted and was covered with insects.
The bed was the worst part. When volunteers lifted the sheets, they found a mattress stained with feces and crawling with insects and maggots.
Phua quickly gathered 20 members to throw out garbage, clean furniture, and wash the bathroom. Everyone worked together to finish the job.
The team also cut the man’s hair and bought him a new mattress.
When Shin Min Daily News reporters visited on May 1, 2025, they met 62-year-old Mr. Liao (name changed from Mandarin).
Though the flat looked better after cleaning, it had become messy again by the time reporters arrived.
The new bedsheets from April 20 now had stains. The floor was cluttered and marked.
Mr. Liao told reporters he shares the flat with his younger brother, each using half the space. His brother works long hours and can’t help clean or care for him.
Mr. Liao said he’s too weak to work and lives on monthly government aid.
He suffers from incontinence, causing the feces and urine stains on his bed and floor.
“I don’t want to live like this. If I could control it, why would I let myself be in this state?” he said.
Mr. Liao gets daily meals from welfare groups but can’t handle the hygiene problems. He feels stuck and hopes for help from authorities.
