XN000022-1979-02-20 — Page 10

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1979

SWD HELPS STREET SLEEPERS

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A FRAGILE OLD MAN, WHO USED TO SLEEP IN THE STREET IN SHEUNG SHUI, NEW TERRITORIES, IS NOW IN GOOD CARE OF AN INSTITUTION WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT,

THE PLIGHT OF THIS 72-YEAR-OLD MAN, WHO HAS DIFFICULTIES IN MOVING, HEARING AND TALKING, IS AMONG THE 178 CASES OF STREET SLEEPERS BEING HELPED BY THE DEPARTMENT.

THROUGH ITS VARIOUS SOCIAL SERVICES AND WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE VOLUNTARY WELFARE SECTOR, THE DEPARTMENT HELPS SOLVE THE PROBLEMS OF STREET SLEEPERS EITHER KNOWN OR REFERRED TO IT.

THE DEPARTMENT'S CO-ORDINATOR OF SERVICES FOR STREET SLEEPERS, MR. BAS IL LEUNG, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY) THAT STREET SLEEPERS COULD BE PROVIDED WITH PUBLIC HOUSING AND OTHER SOCIAL SERVICE. INCLUDING CASH ASSISTANCE, COUNSELLING, PLACEMENT AND ASSISTANCE IN SEEK ING JOBS.

IN ADDITION, HE SAID, A NUMBER OF VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS PROVIDE TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STREET SLEEPERS.

MR. LEUNG SAID THE CASE OF THE OLD MAN IN SHEUNG SHUI, WHICH WAS KNOWN TO THE DEPARTMENT LAST MONTH, WAS AN EXAMPLE OF THE MULTIPLE EFFORTS THAT ARE OFTEN NEEDED IN SOLVING A STREET SLEEPER'S PROBLEMS.

HE SAID THE CASEWORKER HELPED THE OLD MAN TO HAVE

MEDICAL CHECK-UPS, MADE ARRANGEMENTS FOR HIM TO APPLY FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND OLD AGE ALLOWANCE AND LOOKED FOR A SPACE IN AN OLD PEOPLE'S HOME TO MEET HIS NEED FOR RESIDENTIAL CARE.

+NOW HE IS LIVING COMFORTABLY UNDER CARE AND ATTENTION HOME IN KAM TIN, OUR HELP DOES NOT END THERE AS AT PRESENT WE ARE TRYING TO GET A WHEELCHAIR FOR HIM, HE SAID.

MR. LEUNG SAID EVERY STREET SLEEPER KNOWN OR REFERRED TO THE DEPARTMENT WAS VISITED BY ITS SOCIAL WORKERS WHO INVARIABLY MADE KNOWN TO THEM THE FULL RANGE OF SERVICES AVAILABLE AND ASSISTING THEM IN OBTAINING THESE SERVICES IF THEY SO WISHED.

HOWEVER, HE SAID, NOT ALL ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT HELP AND IN FACT SOME OF THEM HAVE EITHER IGNORED OR REFUSED OFFERS BECAUSE THEY PREFER TO LIVE IN THE IR OWN STYLE.

HE POINTED OUT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO ESTIMATE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF STREET SLEEPERS IN HONG KONG AS THEY WANDER FROM PLACE TO PLACE.

+WE WELCOME ANYONE WHO REFERS THE WHEREABOUTS OF STREET SLEEPERS AND OUR SOCIAL WORKERS WILL GO OUT TO HELP THEM WITH THE IR PROBLEMS, HE SAID,

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