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FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 1989
URBAN HOSTEL SCHEME MAY EXPAND
THE URBAN HOSTEL SCHEME, A PILOT SCHEME FOR STREET SLEEPERS, WILL EXPAND IF PROVED SUCCESSFUL, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE SALVATION ARMY LOK ON HOSTEL IN YAU MA TEI FOR STREET SLEEPERS, MRS WONG SAID ASSISTANCE WAS AVAILABLE TO STREET SLEEPERS FROM THE DEPARTMENT'S 30 FAMILY SERVICES CENTRES THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY.
SHE NOTED THAT MORE THAN 300 STREET SLEEPERS HAD BEEN ASSISTED AND OFFERED ACCOMMODATION IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS. AN AVERAGE OF 30 STREET SLEEPERS HAD EXPRESSED THEIR WILLINGNESS TO ACCEPT ASSISTANCE EACH MONTH.
"HOWEVER, DUE TO THE PROXIMITY TO THEIR WORK, SPECIAL WORKING HOURS AND OTHER REASONS, SOME STREET SLEEPERS ARE RELUCTANT TO MOVE ELSEWHERE," MRS WONG ADDED.
"STREET SLEEPERING IS A COMPLICATED ISSUE AND WOULD NEED TIME TO RESOLVE," SHE SAID.
AND
TURNING TO THE FORMS OF ASSISTANCE RENDERED TO STREET SLEEPERS, MRS WONG EXPLAINED THAT THERE WERE COUNSELLING SERVICE, FINANCIAL MATERIAL ASSISTANCE, AS WELL AS REFERRAL FOR RESIDENTIAL CARE SUCH
AS SHELTERS FOR STREET SLEEPERS, HOSTELS AND HOMES FOR THE ELDERLY AND DISABLED.
OTHER ASSISTANCE INCLUDED REFERRAL FOR COMPASSIONATE REHOUSING, MEDICAL TREATMENT, REHABILITATION AND EMPLOYMENT, THEY WOULD ALSO BE ASSISTED IN APPLYING FOR REPLACEMENT OF IDENTITY CARDS.
MRS WONG COMMENDED THE SALVATION ARMY, KWAN FONG CHARITABLE FUNDATION AND THE YAU TSIM DISTRICT BOARD FOR THEIR EFFORTS IN SETTING UP THE URBAN HOSTEL.
SHE SAID THE PILOT SCHEME WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE ON STREET SLEEPERS AND STARTED RECEIVING RESIDENTS LAST NOVEMBER.
THE HOSTEL IS RUN BY THE SALVATION ARMY AT THE INVITATION OF SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT. ALSO INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT WERE THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, BUILDING AND LANDS DEPARTMENT, WATER SUPPLIES, TSIM DISTRICT OFFICE AND YAU TSIM DISTRICT BOARD.
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