XN000022-1988-01-15 — Page 8

FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 1988

LIVING OFF THE

"IN THIS WAY, THEY WILL GRADUALLY GET USED TO STREET AND CAN BE RESETTLED IN OTHER MORE PERMANENT HOUSING AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME. HE SAID.

H

LOOKING BACK AT THE GOVERNMENT'S EFFORTS IN SOLVING THE STREET SLEEPERS PROBLEM IN 1987, MR LAW NOTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD SET UP A CENTRAL COMMITTEE. COMPRISING REPRESENTATIVES FROM DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, TO DRAW UP POLICIES AND TO CO-ORDINATE SERVICES FOR STREET SLEEPERS.

TEAMS

ON THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT FRONT, FOUR OUTREACHING WERE SET UP AND, TOGETHER WITH VOLUNTEERS AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL, HAD BEEN ESTABLISHING CONTACTS WITH THE STREET SLEEPERS, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO WERE OLD AND FRAIL, IN FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES, OF ILL HEALTH OR SUSPECTED TO BE SUFFERING FROM MENTAL ILLNESS, SO AS TO PERSUADE THEM TO ACCEPT SERIVCES.

"WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE DEPARTMENT'S FAMILY SERVICES CENTRES AND OUTREACHING TEAM MEMBERS, OVER 200 STREET SLEEPERS HAD LEFT THE STREETS BETWEEN LAST APRIL. AND DECEMBER WHILE ANOTHER 200-ODD CASES ARE BEING PROCESSED, MR LAW SAID.

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"TO MEET THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF SOME STREET SLEEPERS, THE DEPARTMENT HAS IN CO-OPERATION WITH VOLUNTARY AGENCIES SET UP TEMPORARY SHELTERS AND DAY RELIEF CENTRES TO PROVIDE THEM WITH TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE," HE SAID.

"THE SETTING UP OF THIS DAY RELIEF CENTRE IN YAU MA ΤΕΙ WHERE THERE ARE SOME 300 STREET SLEEPERS WILL. ENHANCE COMMUNITY CARE FOR THEM AND PROVIDE THÊM WITH HAIR CUTTING, BATHING AND OTHER PERSONAL CARE SERIVCES.

"MOREOVER, AFTER WINNING THEIR TRUST THROUGH MORE CONTACTS AT THE CENTRE, SOCIAL WORKERS CAN HELP THEM APPLY FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, OLD AGE OR DISABILITY ALLOWANCES, RENT ALLOWANCES OR HOUSING, HE ADDED.

MR LAW SAID HE WAS HEARTENED THAT MORE AND MORE RESIDENTS PARTICIPATING IN THE WORK FOR STREET SLEEPERS, SHOWING THAT HONG WAS A CARING COMMUNITY.

"THE STREET SLEEPERS PROBLEM CANNOT BE SOLVED OVERNIGHT AND REQUIRES EXTENDED AND APPROPRIATE SUPPORTING SERVICES TO MEET DIFFERENT NEEDS OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF STREET SLEEPERS.

WERE KONG

1 'T

THE

"THIS DAY RELIEF CENTRE IS ONE OF THE MINH-NEEDED

FACILITIES,"

HE SAID.

HE COMMENDED THE SALVATION ARMY FOR, ITS UNTERLING AND TIMELY

SERVICES FOR PEOPLE IN NEED.

THE DAY RELIEF CENTRE, FUNDED BY THE LOTTERIES FUND AND OTHER DONATIONS, STARTED OPERATION LAST SEPTEMBER.

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