SINGAPORE: The South West CDC has put together a S$1.5 million Interim Coping Package for Economic Downturn (iCOPE) to help residents affected by the global economic crisis.

Dr Amy Khor, the CDC's mayor who launched the scheme on Monday, said: "Together with the national help schemes, iCope hopes to achieve the three ‘R’ objective --bringing some interim ‘Relief’ for residents affected by the economic downturn, help them to build ‘Resilience’, as well as help to ‘Rebound’ from the economic downturn."

South West CDC says that from September to November this year, it has seen a 42 per cent increase in job applications, and a 28 per cent increase in social assistance applications compared to the same period last year.

With iCOPE, needy retrenched workers who need immediate support and interim assistance can first be assisted with one-off transport grant, as well as food vouchers for up to S$100.

This will give them some assurance and comfort from the shock of retrenchment before being further assessed to see if they need other help.

The South West CDC's iCope programme is not just targetted at low income households in the division. It is also targetted at retrenched workers and those earning less than S$2,500 dollars a month.

The CDC feels that these Singaporeans may need some extra help with some of their routine expenses.

Its aim is to reach out to 5,000 needy Singaporeans and another 5,000 retrenched workers over a one year period.

The mayor says an assessment would be made if the scheme needs to be continued thereafter.

The South West CDC is also working with a number of companies on an internship programme, which will be launched next year.

This will help job seekers gain work experience so that they will have a better understanding of the new industries that they are preparing for and in the process be more job-ready.

- CNA/yb/yt