XN000022-1987-07-01 — Page 19

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 1987

MRS NG SAID THAT IN

SEARCHING FOR SOLUTIONS ΤΟ THESE SIX CATEGORIES OF PEOPLE, THE GROUP WAS AWARE THAT THERE WERE VARIETIES OF BACKGROUND FOR THESE GROUPS AND THE PUBLIC ATTITUDE ΤΟ THEM ALSO VARY.

"ONE MAY LOOK WITH ABHORENCE THE SHABBY SOLILOQUYING STREET SLEEPERS IN THE CENTRAL, BUT BE MOVED AT THE PLIGHT OF THE DYING OLD MAN IN COLD WEATHER FROM NEWSPAPER READING, AND PROBABLY INFURIATED TO SEE SOME ABLE-BODIED STREET SLEEPERS FIGHTING FOR PRIORITIES IN URBAN GOVERNMENT HOUSING.

"IT SHOULD BE ACCEPTED THAT BOTH ASSISTANCE AND DETERRENCE NECESSARY TO DISSUADE PEOPLE FROM STREET SLEEPING.

ARE

MIGHT

"IT IS THE BALANCE BETWEEN THE TWO THAT DIFFERENT VIEWS BE HEARD AND I HOPE THE GOVERNMENT WOULD TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ALL VIEWS EXPRESSED AND ESTABLISH A SYMPATHETIC AS WELL AS MORE CLEARCUT POLICY TO THIS DESTITUTE GROUP OF PEOPLE IN OUR SOCIETY.

**

ON STREET SLEEPERS, MRS NG SAID IT WAS NOT A WELCOMING SIGN ΤΟ SEE INCREASING NUMBER OF STREET-SLEEPERS FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, FROM 971 IN 1984 TO 1,333 IN 1986 AND THE NUMBER HAD ONLY STEADIED AT 1,319 THIS YEAR.

"INDEED MEMBERS OF THIS OUNCIL HAVE RAISED QUESTIONS ON STREET-SLEEPERS ALMOST EVERY YEAR. THIS PERENNIAL PROBLEM CONCERNS

SEVERAL ASPECTS.

"ON THE ONE ПAND, STREET-SLEEPERS MIGHT POSE ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM TO THE NEIGHBOURHOOD AND CONSTITUTE NUISANCE ΤΟ THE GENERAL

GROUP IN PUBLIC. ON THE OTHER HAND, THEY ARE THE MOST DESTITUTE

THE SOCIETY DEPRIVED OF HUMAN DIGNITY, AND WANTING ASSISTANCE, BOTH WELFARE OR HOUSING."

SHE SAID THE BASIC SOLUTION PROVIDE SHELTERS AND THE FOUR PROVIDED MEANINGFUL SERVICE.

FOR THE STREET-SLEEPERS WAS ተን SHELTERS FOR STREET-SLEEPERS HAD

SHE SAID THE 1986 SURVEY IN STUDYING THE STREET-SLEEPERS' GENERAL AWARENESS OF SUCH SHELTERS AND THEIR USAGE HOWEVER, REFLECTED THAT A LOT MORE WAS TO BE DESIRED.

SHE SAID 74.8 PER CENT OF THE RESPONDED STREET-SLEEPERS HAD NOT NEVER HEARD OF THE SHELTER FOR STREET-SLEEPERS, 8.7 PER CENT DID KNOW THE WHEREABOUTS OF THE SHELTER FOR THE STREET-SLEEPERS AND ONLY 8.5 PER CENT KNEW OF THE SHELTER FOR THE STREET-SLEEPERS.

OF THE VARIOUS REASONS GIVEN BY THE RESPONDENTS OF NOT GOING

OPENING TO THE SHELTER FOR STREET-SLEEPERS, SOME QUOTED SHORT TOO CROWDED, OR TOO FAR AWAY FROM THE PRESENT LOCATION OF STAY.

HOURS,

"THESE POINT ΤΟ THE ГАГТ THAT IMPROVEMENTS ARE IN

MAKE POSSIBLE AND NECESSARY TO ENCOURAGE MORE STREET-SLEEPERS TO OF THE SHELTERS AND THE SERVICES PROVIDED THERE, MRS NG SAID.

FACT

USE

"FIRSTLY, MORE