Halfway house for former drug offenders expanded to take in more residents

SINGAPORE - A halfway house for former drug offenders, which provides long-term residents with refuge and training, has increased its capacity to accommodate up to 170 people.

Breakthrough Missions, set up in 1983, currently houses 71 stay-in residents, staff and helpers at its 3ha compound in Cosford Road in Changi, which it moved to in July 2023. There are another 19 staff who do not stay on the premises.

The halfway house is now raising funds for the construction of two one-storey buildings within the compound. They will hold a 320 sq m central kitchen and a multi-purpose facility for events and workshops. The project, slated to be completed by July 2026, is expected to cost about $5 million.

The construction of the two buildings is part of the second phase of renovation works. The first phase, which was completed in April 2025, involved expanding the compound’s infrastructure to accommodate more stay-in residents, staff and helpers.

Residents of the halfway house go through an 18-month programme, which includes vocational training and reintegration support. They also attend Bible study classes and receive counselling.

Upon completing the programme, residents can choose to stay on and become helpers. Those who choose to remain and work at the home are appointed as full-time staff after three years.

Said Pastor Simon Neo, founder of the halfway house: “There are residents in the home who have stayed on for 10, even 20, years to work together with me. The longest-staying resident has been here for more than 30 years.”

Chef Peter Teo, who

runs Breakthrough Missions’ French cafe in Changi Village

, is a former resident of the halfway house.

After completing a six-month rehabilitation programme at Breakthrough Missions, he went on to complete a diploma in culinary arts at Shatec and became an executive sous chef at a French restaurant.

Mr Oh Kim Poh, who has been living at Breakthrough Missions since 2015 and now works for the halfway house, said: “The central kitchen will provide us with a platform to teach residents how to prepare and cook food according to industry standards, because former offenders need to be equipped with skills to apply for jobs when they rejoin society.”

It will be able to prepare three meals daily for up to 170 people. There are also plans to build a carpark for 50 to 70 vehicles, meant for residents’ family members and visitors.

Mr Oh, who is in charge of purchasing ingredients for the kitchen, is learning to prepare food for the residents.

The 55-year-old was jailed in 2014 for drug consumption and was convicted of other offences such as theft and involvement in illegal moneylending.

After completing his six-month stint at the halfway house in 2015, Mr Oh decided to stay on because he wanted to help others turn their lives around.

“I’ve learnt from my past mistakes, and I hope to encourage others to do the same. I haven’t thought about returning to society yet, because I’m happy with where I am today,” he said.

Mr Michael Yeo, 62, has been living at Breakthrough Missions since 2005. He was assigned to the halfway house to complete the last six months of his three-year sentence for drug possession and a positive urine test. That was his 11th time in prison, and he thought he had reached a dead end. By the age of 40, he had spent over 20 years in and out of jail.

“When I was younger, I always treated time in jail like a holiday, but things changed when I realised age was catching up with me,” said Mr Yeo, who started consuming drugs in 1973. “I saw my friends who transformed their lives; they got married and started a family. I felt left out. I told myself that I had to make a change.”

Despite his resolve to get clean, he struggled with the routine at Breakthrough Missions at first.

“I was working from 8am to 5pm, doing things like washing cars or carpentry work,” he said. “It was a struggle getting used to that kind of regimen. I was not used to taking instructions from others.”

Besides his faith, another thing that kept him going was his skills with the guitar.

“Through the programme and activities, I found community and a sense of purpose, which is why I decided to stay on. It’s a new life, and a new direction that keeps me going. When I was out there, I had to live in fear,” he said.

“Now I don’t have to look over my shoulder to check if there are police or Central Narcotics Bureau officers behind me.”

To raise funds for the new facilities, Breakthrough Missions will be hosting a tee-off and gala dinner at Orchid Country Club on July 18.

Minister for Education and Minister-in-charge of Social Services Integration Desmond Lee will be attending the event as guest of honour.

Members of the public who wish to donate can visit Breakthrough Missions’ website

here

.