Nicole Seah Instagram – At 216 this morning with @fooseckguan.sg and the EC team. Market visits are critical for us to understand the ground and to also gather feedback, which is usually varied depending on what is of concern to the residents. Today a couple’s feedback was especially provoking as they shared their challenges being a sandwiched class and having to support elderly parents with medical conditions, as well as a child with special needs and psychiatric conditions. They lamented that the current means testing merely checks the number of dependents in a single household and the per capita household income. However in their case, certain layers such as additional medical conditions of family members and out-of-pocket psychiatric expenses for their children are not considered, as well as elderly dependents living in separate household. Therefore the means test might not wholly reflect their financial ability and expenses that they hold. We also had an in-depth discussion on the need for more support in subsidising private healthcare for mental illnesses, and the way mental health patients are assessed in the public healthcare system. This goes back to the crux of what we can do better in terms of policymaking and implementation – While much has been done, we should also constantly work towards inclusivity and ensuring that the varied tapestry of populations are being factored in and considered, especially for circumstances that seem lifelong and complex. On a personal note, grateful for new volunteers and especially a couple who joined us from Bukit Gombak. We are powered by volunteer efforts and pure passion, and that keeps us motivated amidst quieter months. Blk 216 Bedok Hawker Centre