Newsflash

Report on
Study of Service Model and Effectiveness of
Small Group Home Service

The Hong Kong Christian Service has successfully launched the first-of-its-kind home improvement project last year - "Building Power". The sharing of real life stories of service users has attracted massive public and media attention. Ironically, the plight and mounting needs of the poor in this city of affluence were also revealed. Newspaper headlines in late August reported how a three-generation family with 23 members were crowded in a small house, with seventy-year-old grandpa being the major breadwinner, working for a living for the entire family. The incident unveiled the hardship encountered by a poor but resilient family, and spurred us onto doing something more for the deprived.

Aiming to enhance the quality of life and to improve the living conditions of both the seniors and those families with financial difficulties, we are extremely grateful and honoured to be able to work hand-in-hand with Chan Dang Social Services Foundation and Habitat for Humanity China, which share the same vision and mission, in organizing the "Home Improvement Project" in the coming two years. We are delighted to have the financial support of the sponsoring bodies, including D Chan & Company Limited, PMI Mortgage Insurance Asia Limited as well as the Partnership Fund for the Disadvantaged. Without their support, the many dreams of the deprived for a decent home condition will never come true.

The expected service users of the Home Improvement Project include those needy elderly or low-income families, the household environment of which are prone to risk of accidents or require refurbishment of furniture and equipment The process will allow us to provide tremendous opportunities and a platform for volunteer involvement. We will also try to mobilize support from professionals, such as occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and interior designers, just to name a few, so as to arouse public awareness and concern on the issue of poverty

Territory-wide applications are welcomed and will be processed in phases in the coming two years. Social workers from welfare agencies are now invited to refer cases for application. For further details, please visit our website or contact our project staff at 2777-8179.