Singapore – A simple offer to help an elderly woman overwhelmed by clutter sparked a life-altering journey for one former financial planner. On December 28, 2025, Steven Goh, 47, found himself nominated as a finalist for The Straits Times Singaporean of the Year award for his dedication to a unique form of community service.
From Financial Planning to Filling a Need
What began as a single act of kindness has blossomed into a charity supporting hundreds of vulnerable seniors in Singapore.
- In 2012, Steven Goh founded Helping Joy after helping an elderly woman clear her home.
- The charity has since decluttered over 300 homes and assisted more than 800 seniors.
- Goh left his career in finance in 2016 to dedicate himself full-time to Helping Joy.
- The organization provides not only decluttering services but also essential items and even funeral arrangements.
Goh’s path to becoming a community champion began 13 years ago when, while waiting for a client, he was approached by an elderly woman requesting assistance with her home. “I was curious, so I followed her home,” he recalled. He discovered a residence overflowing with scrap metal – the remnants of a lifetime spent as a karung guni, collecting and selling recyclable materials. Age and illness had made it impossible for her to manage the accumulation alone.
Q: What does Helping Joy do for seniors in need?
A: Helping Joy provides comprehensive support, including decluttering homes, offering essential items like furniture and appliances, and even arranging funeral services for those without family, ensuring dignity and care throughout their lives.
Initially, Goh offered to find volunteers, but his friends were unavailable. Undeterred, he turned to Facebook, and to his surprise, four strangers responded. Together, they cleared the woman’s home, an experience that profoundly impacted Goh. Soon after, in 2012, he established Helping Joy, inviting his newfound volunteers to continue assisting elderly individuals facing similar challenges.
Today, one of those original volunteers works full-time as a center manager for the charity, while another continues to contribute their time despite working in delivery services. The remaining two were unable to continue due to personal and professional commitments.
Helping Joy quickly gained momentum, with referrals pouring in from social workers, grassroots leaders, and care facilities. Goh found it increasingly difficult to balance his financial planning career with his growing commitment to the charity. In 2016, he made the pivotal decision to leave his job and dedicate himself entirely to Helping Joy.
Mr Steven Goh with his team of volunteers at Helping Joy sorting out items and helping to declutter a resident’s home in Boon Lay Avenue on December 28, 2025.
The work isn’t glamorous. A single decluttering session can take six to eight hours, requiring careful planning and coordination. Goh and his team assess living conditions, determine volunteer needs, and raise $3,000 to $5,000 in donations to cover repairs and replacements. They also ensure items aren’t simply discarded, meticulously sorting through belongings, even those infested with pests.
“We need to open up every little trash bag with cockroaches, and sort it out. Even those with bedbugs or filled with dust,” Goh explained, emphasizing the importance of respecting the emotional value of each item to the beneficiary. “Every item is valuable to the beneficiary. It might seem not valuable to us, but it might be something memorable to them.”
One beneficiary, 76-year-old Mr. Lee Han Tiong, experienced the transformative impact of Helping Joy in 2025. Living alone in Boon Lay after the death of his mother three years prior, his flat had become increasingly cluttered, and he battled a severe bedbug infestation. Mobility issues further complicated matters, even rendering his electric scooter unusable due to the pests.
“There were too many bedbugs, it was very scary. I had no choice but to throw my things away,” Mr. Lee said.
Helping Joy volunteers cleared Mr. Lee’s home in late 2025, with plans for further treatment in January. They also provided him with essential appliances and clothing. “I was very happy to see them clean my house,” he expressed gratefully.
Mr Steven Goh (top, third from left holding a lamp) said a single decluttering session can take six to eight hours.
Goh doesn’t shy away from the difficult tasks, personally assisting with everything from cleaning toilets to removing hazardous waste. He understands that hoarding is often rooted in trauma, fear, and loss, and that building trust is crucial. “We show our love and care because once they find that there is someone to rely on, eventually they will part with things they hoard… Something new takes its place, which is our love and care,” he said.
Helping Joy’s commitment extends beyond decluttering. They provide ongoing support and, in some cases, even arrange and fund funerals for beneficiaries with no family. “We cannot just say when they die, it’s not our problem. That’s the last journey of their life, and we want to ensure that we take care of them all the way until the end,” Goh stated.
Since 2012, Helping Joy has decluttered over 300 homes and supported more than 800 seniors, operating solely on donations. The charity employs seven staff members and relies on a dedicated team of approximately 200 volunteers. “We are blessed that we have this group of volunteers that has been with us for many, many years. We would not be able to do what we do without our volunteers and donors. It is teamwork,” Goh said.
Since 2012, Helping Joy with its team of seven staff members and some 200 volunteers, has decluttered over 300 homes.
Goh believes hoarding is a growing issue in Singapore, particularly with an aging population. Despite the personal sacrifices – including his 2014 divorce and raising a 14-year-old son – he remains steadfast in his commitment. “I can’t stop… If I do, who is going to continue to take care of them?” he asked. “The best part of my job is when beneficiaries thank me from their heart because that is something that money cannot buy.”
The Straits Times Singaporean of the Year award is given to a Singaporean or group of citizens who have made a significant contribution to society. This can be through achievements that put Singapore on the world stage, or by going beyond the call of duty to selflessly improve the lives of others in the community, among other ways.
The award seeks to honour a Singaporean or Singapore organisation that has made a positive impact beyond our borders, contributing to Singapore’s global reputation.
The person or organisation must have delivered a project, initiative or body of work that benefited a community or country outside of Singapore.
The award seeks to recognise a Singaporean who is under 18 years old and has shown courage, compassion, empathy, kindness and/or a spirit of service, and has made a positive impact among peers.
The awards are organised by The Straits Times and presented by UBS Singapore. The official airline partner is Singapore Airlines, and the global hotel partner is Millennium Hotels and Resorts.
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$20,000 in cash for award recipient
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One pair of Singapore Airlines business class tickets for each individual/group; up to three pairs of tickets for the winning group
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A five-night stay in any of Millennium Hotels and Resorts’ properties globally, up to a maximum of three sets of accommodation for the winning group
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$5,000 in cash for each individual/group finalist
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One pair of Singapore Airlines economy class tickets for each individual/group; up to a maximum of three pairs for each group of finalists
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A three-night stay in one of Millennium Hotels and Resorts’ properties globally, up to a maximum of three sets of accommodation for each finalist
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$20,000 cash for award recipient
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$5,000 in cash for award recipient
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A pair of SIA economy class tickets
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A three-night stay in one of Millennium Hotels and Resorts’ properties globally
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