Statute Details
- Title: Destitute Persons (Welfare Homes) Notification 2013
- Act Code: DPA1989-S188-2013
- Legislative Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Destitute Persons Act (Cap. 78)
- Power Exercised: Powers under section 7(1) of the Destitute Persons Act
- Commencement: 1 April 2013
- Key Provisions: Section 1 (Citation and Commencement); Section 2 (Establishment of a welfare home)
- Current Version: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026 (with amendment history)
- Notable Amendment: Amended by S 8/2017 with effect from 20 Nov 2016
What Is This Legislation About?
The Destitute Persons (Welfare Homes) Notification 2013 is a short piece of Singapore subsidiary legislation that formally designates a specific facility as a “welfare home” under the Destitute Persons Act. In practical terms, it is an administrative-legal instrument: it tells the public and the legal system which premises are recognised for the reception, care, and rehabilitation of “destitute persons”.
The Notification is made by the Minister (as indicated in the enacting formula) using powers conferred by section 7(1) of the Destitute Persons Act. Its scope is narrow. Rather than creating broad welfare policy, it performs a legal “naming and location” function—establishing a particular welfare home, specifying its address, and clarifying its purpose and effective date.
Although the document is brief, it is important because the designation of welfare homes can affect how services are delivered, how persons may be received and cared for, and how the statutory framework operates on the ground. For practitioners, the Notification is a key reference point when advising on matters involving welfare home administration, statutory responsibilities, and compliance with the Destitute Persons Act regime.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1: Citation and Commencement provides the legal identification and timing of the Notification. It states that the Notification may be cited as the “Destitute Persons (Welfare Homes) Notification 2013” and that it comes into operation on 1 April 2013. This matters for determining when the designation took effect and for resolving any questions about which legal regime applied before and after commencement.
Section 2: Welfare home is the substantive provision. It establishes a welfare home for the reception, care and rehabilitation of destitute persons. The Notification identifies the welfare home as Acacia Home at 30 Admiralty Street, Singapore 757441. It also notes that Acacia Home was formerly known as Acacia Welfare Home at 10 Kaki Bukit Avenue 5, Singapore 417902. The designation is stated to take effect with effect from 1 April 2013.
From a legal perspective, section 2 does three things at once:
- Designates the premises (Acacia Home) as a welfare home under the Act;
- Specifies the purpose—reception, care and rehabilitation of destitute persons;
- Provides continuity by linking the new name/location to the former name/location.
This continuity language is particularly useful in practice. When facilities relocate or rebrand, there can be uncertainty about whether the statutory designation follows the premises, the entity, or both. The Notification’s express “formerly known as” statement helps clarify that the welfare home function continues despite the change in address and naming.
Amendment note (S 8/2017, wef 20/11/2016): The extract indicates that section 2 was amended by S 8/2017 with effect from 20 November 2016. While the extract does not reproduce the full amendment text, the presence of an amendment confirms that the legal designation may have been updated—most likely to reflect administrative changes such as the facility’s particulars (for example, address, naming, or other identifying details). For practitioners, this means that reliance should be placed on the current version as at the relevant date, and not solely on the 2013 wording.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Notification is structured in a very simple format, typical of subsidiary legislation that performs a specific administrative function. It contains:
- Enacting formula (the legal basis and the authority making the Notification);
- Section 1 on citation and commencement;
- Section 2 on the establishment of the welfare home.
There are no schedules or complex parts in the extract. The “structure” is therefore essentially two operative provisions, with the remainder being formalities (citation, commencement, and the making clause). The amendment history is separately tracked in the legislation database and should be consulted for the exact current wording.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Notification applies to the welfare home it establishes—Acacia Home—and, by extension, to the statutory framework under the Destitute Persons Act that governs how destitute persons are received, cared for, and rehabilitated. It does not directly impose obligations on the general public in the way that regulatory or offences legislation might. Instead, it operates as a legal designation that enables the welfare home to function within the statutory scheme.
In practical terms, the Notification is relevant to:
- Government and welfare home administrators who must ensure that the facility’s statutory status and particulars are accurate;
- Legal practitioners advising on matters connected to the Destitute Persons Act (for example, statutory processes involving welfare homes);
- Any parties who need to verify the official status and location of a welfare home for compliance, documentation, or case-related fact-finding.
Because the Notification is facility-specific, its applicability is anchored to the named premises and the effective date(s) of the designation and amendment.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Even though the Notification is brief, it is legally significant because it provides the formal statutory recognition of a welfare home. In welfare and social services contexts, statutory designation can be the difference between an administrative arrangement and a legally structured facility operating under a specific statutory mandate.
For practitioners, the key value lies in certainty. The Notification clarifies that Acacia Home—at a specified address—is established as a welfare home for the reception, care and rehabilitation of destitute persons, and it links the current facility to its former name and address. This reduces ambiguity in documentation and helps ensure that any legal analysis that depends on the identity and location of welfare homes is grounded in an authoritative legal instrument.
Additionally, the amendment history (S 8/2017 effective 20/11/2016) underscores a practical compliance point: facility details can change, and the law may be updated accordingly. When advising clients or preparing submissions, counsel should verify the current version and the relevant effective dates. This is especially important where facts span multiple time periods (for example, events occurring before and after 20 November 2016).
Finally, the Notification illustrates how Singapore uses subsidiary legislation to keep operational details current without requiring frequent amendments to the principal Act. The Destitute Persons Act provides the overarching framework; the Notification supplies the “live” list of welfare homes and their particulars.
Related Legislation
- Destitute Persons Act (Cap. 78) — the authorising Act, including section 7(1) which empowers the making of notifications establishing welfare homes.
- Destitute Persons (Welfare Homes) Notification 2013 — as amended (S 8/2017, wef 20/11/2016) and current version as at 27 Mar 2026.
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Destitute Persons (Welfare Homes) Notification 2013 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.