Shirley Cheung says, "He said that he never expected to receive help from complete strangers."
No one is free from life’s ups and downs. The underprivileged can easily be left in the lurch after abrupt upheavals or disasters, whether natural or manmade. One of the single-parent families helped by Shirley Cheung, a social worker at H.K.S.K.H. Tung Chung Integrated Services Centre, was stranded by a series of unfortunate events in early 2021.
"The family used to rely on the Government’s social security allowance. The sudden passing of a parent left the young dependant very upset and traumatised," says Shirley. "Financial hardship followed and he couldn’t even stay in the flat where he used to live with his only family member." Moving fees, rent costs and setting up a new place would total tens of thousands of dollars. Who could he turn to for help?
As most of the emergency subsidies available are typically limited and involve long, complex administrative procedures, Shirley gave The Jockey Club Emergency Relief Fund a try. "The fund processed the request very quickly," Shirley says. "Once they confirmed the applicant’s urgent need for relief and his lack of resources after a preliminary assessment, the application got approved swiftly."
Shirley is especially moved by how the fund cared for and responded to the applicant’s broad range of needs. Besides covering moving costs, the fund was concerned about the mental health of the young man and offered to pay for his therapy sessions with a clinical psychologist. Within two weeks of the application, the young man received emergency relief from the fund.
"When God closes a door, he opens a window. There is always a helping hand."
"He’s now got on with a new life. He said that he never expected to receive help from complete strangers." Shirley adds that when underprivileged families are struck by accidents like a fire or a sudden illness, they need immediate relief to stand on their own feet again. Shirley appreciates that The Hong Kong Jockey Club and its team of social care professionals offer a silver lining to families in need. "When God closes a door, he opens a window. There is always a helping hand."
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