XN000022-1980-02-13 — Page 21

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1980

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SWD HELPS STREET SLEEPERS

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THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, IN EACH CASE KNOWN OR REFERRED TO IT, ASSIGNS A SOCIAL WORKER FROM THE NEAREST FAMILY SERVICES CENTRE TO VISIT THE STREET SLEEPER, ASSESS HIS NEEDS AND OFFER APPROPRIATE ASSISTANCE.

THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, THE HON THOMAS LEE, SAID THIS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN REPLY TO QUESTIONS RAISED BY DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI ON THE NUMBER OF STREET SLEEPERS AND THE MEASURES BEING TAKEN TO HELP THEM.

MR LEE SAID ASSISTANCE OFFERED MIGHT INCLUDE PUBLIC

ASSISTANCE, OLD AGE ALLOWANCE, TEMPORARY SHELTER OR CHARITABLE FUND GRANTS, OR IN THE LONGER-TERM, COMPASSIONATE REHOUSING OR ADMISSION TO A DAY OR RESIDENTIAL CENTRE.

HE EMPHASISED THAT THE DEPARTMENT'S ABILITY TO HELP STREET SLEEPERS DEPENDED PRIMARILY ON THEIR WILLINGNESS TO BE HELPED, AND SAID THIS WAS BY NO MEANS ALWAYS THE CASE.

THE NUMBER OF STREET SLEEPERS BEING ASSISTED BY THE DEPARTMENT IS 155, HE SAID, BUT OBVIOUSLY THE TOTAL NUMBER IS LARGER THAN THIS BECAUSÉ MANY ARE UNWILLING TO ACCEPT HELP.

HE SAID IT WAS DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN AN ACCURATE OVERALL FIGURE LARGELY BECAUSE OF THE CONSIDERABLE SEASONAL FLUCTUATION IN NUMBERS BUT BASED ON ESTIMATES FROM RECENT SURVEYS BY THE DEPARTMENT IN VARIOUS DISTRICTS, IT WAS BELIEVED THERE MIGHT BE BETWEEN 500 AND 1 000 STREET SLEEPERS OF VARIOUS KINDS.

MR LEE SAID THE DEPARTMENT INTENDED TO CARRY OUT A MORE DETAILED SURVEY COVERING THE WHOLE TERRITORY LATER THIS YEAR.

ON ACCOUNT OF THE RECENT COLD WEATHER, HE SAID SPECIAL MEASURES HAD BEEN TAKEN TO HELP STREET SLEEPERS.

SINCE JANUARY 31, HE SAID, A TOTAL OF 2 872 BLANKETS HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT'S COMMUNITY CENTRES AND OFFICES OR BY DEPARTMENTAL STAFF IN THE STREETS.

IN ADDITION, FIVE COMMUNITY CENTRES OF THE DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN KEPT OPEN OVERNIGHT SINCE FEBRUARY 8 AS TEMPORARY SHELTERS FOR THOSE WHO NEED THEM, HE ADDED.

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