My brother, Ashwin is a 25 year old adult with autism. He is one of 300 mentally-disabled/ill residents of Surya Home by Sunlove established in 1986.

Unlike my brother, most of Surya's residents are homeless with no known relatives.

As of 2013, their HDB commercial lease in Lorong Buang Kok on their home expired to make way for the building of more HDB flats.

Their open garden spaces are now going to be compromised as they have been offered an alternate by HDB - a small plot of land, offering four walls under lock and key for the current residents.  

In hope of awareness, we hope that HDB will reconsider the use of land and understand the importance of open space and nature to the mental wellbeing of these beautiful people who deserve an opportunity to live right.

History of Sunlove and Surya Home

1986 the current chairman of Sunlove Abode for Intellectually-informed, bought an unused chicken farm in Lim Chu Kang.

With the support of his friends, he converted it into a make-shift home called the Sunshine Home and housed about 20 mentally-ill patients, who had been discharged from hospital and had no where to return to. 

They were homeless and had no known relatives. But as more and more patients were admitted, the home relocated to Lorong Buangkok in 1993.

It was renamed Surya Home when the Sunlove organisation built another home in the area in 2004.

To further help the poor and needy in the community, Mr Wee started Dementia Daycare in 1997 which serves patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and Parkinson’s disease. 

In 2000, he started Sunlove-Hougang Community Day Rehab Centre, serving patients discharged from hospitals but who require rehabilitative programmes because of their medical conditions. 

Sunlove Abode for Intellectually-Infirmed was awarded the People’s Association Employer’s Community Spirit Merit Award in 2006 and the Excellence Award in 2008 for grassroots involvement. 

Today, Surya Home is home to 300 residents, many left behind by families who either do not care or simply cannot cope. 

They spend their time engaging in various activities such as watching television, playing games, talking sessions, newspaper reading and light physical activities.

Those, who are more able-bodied, are given housekeeping tasks such as sweeping the compounds and doing light landscaping to keep their minds and bodies active.