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THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 1987
HOMES FOUND FOR 107 STREET SLEEPERS
*
THE CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE ON STREET SLEEPERS TODAY (THURSDAY) WAS INFORMED THAT THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HAS SUCCESSFULLY WORKED ON 246 STREET SLEEPERS, 107 OF THEM HAVE BEEN ACCOMMODATED
SINCE MAY THIS YEAR.
THE REST OF THEM ARE AWAITING ADMISSION INTO INSTITUTIONS FOR THE ELDERLY, COMPASSIONATE REHOUSING, GOVERNMENT MENTAL HOSPITAL OR TEMPORARY SHELTER, THE COMMITTEE NOTED AT ITS SECOND MEETING CHAIRED BY THE ACTING DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MISS LOLLY CHIU.
MISS CHIU POINTED OUT THAT THE MOST DIFFICULT PROBLEMS FACED BY SOCIAL WORKERS WERE THOSE POSED BY STREET SLEEPERS WHO WERE EITHER *BLE-BODIED (34 PER CENT), DRUG-ADDICTED (30 PER CENT) OR ALCOHOLIC (8 PER CENT).
THAN
"MOST OF THESE STREET DWELLERS ARB UNDER 60 YEARS OLD AND THEIR REAL NEED IS FOR CHEAP HOUSING IN THE URBAN AREAS RATHER WELFARE SERVICES.
J
FOUR
SINCE MAY THIS YEAR, FOUR OUTREACHING TEAMS IN THE OPERATIONAL REGIONS OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT
HONG KONG, EAST KOWLOON, WEST KOWLOON AND NEW TERRITORIES REGIONS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED TO STEP UP EFFORTS ΤΟ PROVIDE ASSISTANCE ΤΟ STREET SLEEPERS. EACH TEAM HAS TWO SOCIAL WORKERS TO ASSIST DIFFICULT AND UNMOTIVATED STREET SLKEPERS.
"A DAY RELIEF CENTRE IN YAU MA TEI AND A TEMPORARY SHELTER IN CHỌI HUNG WILL BE OPENED FOR STREET SLEEPERS FROM NEXT MONTH, " MISS CHIU ANNOUNCED.
SHE EXPLAINED THAT THE DAY RELIEF CENTRE WOULD BE RUN BY THE SALVATION ARMY TO PROVIDE PERSONAL CARE SUCH AS FOOD, BATHING, HAIR-CUTTING AND CLOTHING ΤΟ STREET SLEEPERS BEFORE THEY WERE REFERRED TO OTHER RESIDENTIAL SERVICE OR FOR MEDICAL CARE AND THE TEMPORARY SHELTER WOULD BE OPERATED BY CARITAS ΤΟ RECEIVE REFERRALS FOR SHELTER FROM THE DAY RELIEF CENTRE.
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