Woman has lived at Changi Airport for 8 years: Report

SINGAPORE - A woman has been living in Changi Airport for eight years, Lianhe Wanbao reported on Wednesday (Jan 4).

She is among more than 10 "regulars" at the airport, the Chinese evening daily reported.

The woman in her 50s, who preferred to remain anonymous, told the paper that she rented out her three-room flat in Tampines eight years ago and moved to the airport.

She was hit by the 2008 financial crisis, and had cash flow problems. She was "desperate", she said.

At first, she was just going to stay for a few nights, but it became eight years, Wanbao said.

Now, she has a trolley full of clothes, toiletries, food and other daily necessities.

She eats at the airport food court and finds living there quite convenient as there is a supermarket, showers, air-conditioning and free Wi-Fi, Wanbao said.

She has rental income of more than $1,000, and is not in financial difficulty, but hopes to have a roof over her head.

"I intend to sell the flat and apply for a smaller two-room unit, to make life easier," she said.

Changi Airport Group said that when its staff see people who seek shelter at the airport, they would urge them not to do so.

"We will work with agencies like the Ministry of Social and Family Development, as well as Family Service Centres, to find the best way to help them," it said in a statement.

There are others who make the airport their home, the woman said, including a couple who "co-habit" there.

Another regular, a man in his 60s, told Wanbao he has a rental flat in Beach Road but fell out with his roommate.

To avoid his roommate, he started sleeping at the airport recently, but goes home in the day.

He also prefers to sleep in air-con on hot nights, he said.

There have been earlier reported cases of people who camp out at Changi Airport.

Two years ago, a homeless couple who stayed at the airport for several months made headlines. They moved in after falling out with relatives.

Read also: Meet Singapore's McRefugees

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This article was first published on Jan 6, 2017.
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