XN000022-1978-01-08 — Page 4

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 8, 1978

MRS. DOE NOTED THAT WHEN SOCIAL WORKERS APPROACHED THE STREET-SLEEPERS, OFTEN A CONSIDERABLE NUMBER OF THEM WERE FOUND TO BE RECEIVING EITHER PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND/OR DISABILITY AND INFIRMITY ALLOWANCE. BUT WHEN THEY WERE OFFERED OTHER FORMS OF ASSISTANCE, SOME OF THEM EITHER IGNORED OR REFUSED BECAUSE THEY PREFERRED TO LIVE IN THE IR USUAL STYLE.

MRS. DOE EMPHASISED THAT EVERY STREET-SLEEPER KNOWN TO OR REFERRED TO THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WOULD BE VISITED BY SOCIAL WORKERS WHO INVARIABLY MADE KNOWN TO HIM THE FULL RANGE OF SERVICES AVAILABLE AND ASSISTED HIM IN OBTAINING THESE SERVICES IF HE SO WISHED.

IN FACT, SHE CONTINUED, STREET-SLEEPERS ENJOY EQUAL PRIVILEGES AS ANY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

+TO MEET THEIR NEED FOR HOUSING, RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE MADE FOR THEM TO OBTAIN IT IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES ON COMPASSIONATE GROUND. FOR THOSE IN NEED OF TEMPORARY HOUSING, THEY WILL BE REFERRED TO THE TRANS IT CENTRES OPERATED BY THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT THROUGHOUT HONG KONG, OR THE VARIOUS STREET-SLEEPERS HOMES AND SHELTERS OPERATED BY VOLUNTARY AGENCIES.+

+APART FROM HELPING THEM TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF BOARD AND LODGING, ATTEMPTS WILL ALSO BE MADE TO ARRANGE EMPLOYMENT FOR THEM. THE DISABLED AND THE INFIRM WILL BE CARED FOR AT VARIOUS INSTITUTIONS, SHE REMARKED.

+ IN THE CASE OF STREET-SLEEPERS WITH CHILDREN, AGED BETWEEN SIX AND 12, EFFORTS WILL BE MADE TO HAVE THE CHILDREN ENROLLED IN GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SCHOOLS, SHE ADDED,

MRS. DOE POINTED OUT THAT INFORMATION ON THE WHEREABOUTS OF STREET-SLEEPERS WERE MAINLY PASSED ON TO SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC OR OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS EITHER BY TELEPHONE OR IN WRITING.

+UPON RECEIVING SUCH INFORMATION, SOCIAL WORKERS FROM THE DEPARTMENT WILL IMMEDIATELY GO OUT TO HELP THEM WITH THE IR PROBLEMS.

+ IN MOST CASES, MONETARY ASSISTANCE WILL BE GRANTED FROM TRUST FUNDS TO HELP THEM OUT FROM HARDSHIP BEFORE OTHER FORMS OF ASSISTANCE, SHE SAID.

FINALLY, MRS. DOE SAID THAT FOR THOSE STREET-SLEEPERS WHOM WE KNOW THE IR WHEREABOUTS BUT HAVE SO FAR REFUSED OUR HELP, SOCIAL WORKERS WILL STILL CONTINUE TO APPROACH THEM FROM TIME TO TIME.

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