WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 1987
18
"FIRSTLY, MORE SUCH SHELTERS IS DESIRED. THEY SHOULD ВЕ LOCATED IN THE MORE ACCESSIBLE PLACES FOR THE STREET-SLEEPERS.
"SECONDLY, ADEQUATE MANPOWER AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES MUST BE GIVEN TO THESE SHELTERS TO PROVIDE SUCH IMPORTANT COUNSELLING SERVICE TO ENABLE THE STREET-SLEEPER RESTORE A NORMAL LIFE AND HIS DEEMED DIGNITY.
"
MRS NG SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD SO FAR DIRECTED ITS EFFORTS ΤΟ IDENTIFYING AND EVEN REACHING OUT TO THE STREET-SLEEPERS TO OFFER SUCH WELFARE ASSISTANCE WHICH WERE NO MORE THAN WHAT THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM OFFERED, E.G. OLD AGE ALLOWANCE, PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, COMPASSIONATE HOUSING, OR SPECIAL NEED ALLOWANCE, SO LONG AS THEY SATISFIED THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.
"IT IS GOOD TO SEE GOVERNMENT HAS BEGUN TO PAY ATTENTION TO PROVIDING MORE OF SUCH SHELTERS. THIS IS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. BUT THE POLICY SHOULD NOT BE MERE PROVISION OF A PLACE TO SLEEP FOR THE STREET-SLEEPERS BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY THERE SHOULD BE COUNSELLING SERVICES TO ENABLE THEM A FULL RECOVERY READY TO INTEGRATE WITH THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY. FOLLOW-UP WORK IS IMPORTANT."
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MRS NG ALSO SAID THAT ALTHOUGH SHE AGREED THAT HOUSING PRIORITIES SHOULD NOT BE UPSET
MAKE ROOM FOR THE ABLE-BODIED STREET-SLEEPERS, SHE WOULD NOT ENDORSE THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD SHUT ITS DOOR TO THOSE DESTITUTE STREET-SLEEPERS WHO WERE IN NEED OF SIFLTERS,
SHE SAID ACCORDING TO THE 1986 SURVEY CONDUCTED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, 47 PER CENT OF THE STREET-SLEEPERS WERE ABLE-BODIED. BUT THE REST MIGHT STILL BE NEEDING SHELTERS.
"WHILE SOME MIGHT REQUIRE SPECIAL INSTITUTES LIKE HALF-WAY HOUSES, CONSIDERATION SHOULD RE GIVEN ΤΟ OFFERING SOME FORM OF GOVERNMENT ACCOMMODATION FOR THE NEEDY OTHERS SO THAT THEY MAY HAVE A PLACE ΤΟ SLEEP UPON DISCHARGE FROM HOSPITALS OR STREET-SLEEPER SHELTERS.
"AS AT APRIL 1986, 205 APPLICATIONS FOR ACCOMMODATION FROM THESE STREET-SLEEPERS WERE STILL IN PROCESS OR PENDING ACTION. SHOULD THEY BE SUCCESSFUL, THIS WOULD HELP REDUCING THE NUMBER OF STREET-SLEEPERS.
F
MRS NG SUGGESTED THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND HOUSING DEPARTMENT TO JOINTLY SERIOUSLY CONSIDER OPTIONS TO ACCOMMODATE THESE STREET-SLEEPERS.
"FERHAPS, UPON THF RECOMMENDATION OF THE WELFARE, HOUSING DEPARTMENT MIGHT RELAX THE COMPASSIONATE HOUSING FOR THE ILL OR EX-MENTALLY
DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL AGE CRITERIA FOR ELL STREET-SLEEPERS,
*
HOWEVER, MRS NG ALSO FAID THAT THE AD HOC GROUP WAS AWARE THAT THERE MIGHT BE CERTAIN GROUP OF STREFT SLEEPERS WHO PREFERRED STREET SLEEPING.
"IN THIS
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