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St James’ Settlement reveals the living conditions of the urban poor
Publish Date: 26-Oct-2017
 On 16 October, the day before the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, St James’ Settlement announced the findings of a study on low income families. Commissioned by the Settlement, the department of social work at the Chinese University of Hong Kong carried out the investigation to reveal the living conditions of the poor and the results of different poverty alleviation services.
1,015 people participated in the survey. The result showed that 72% of the participants did not have the resources to deal with emergencies. Worse still, 35% reported they were unable to meet daily expenses, and 57% said that they could not afford to replace shabby furniture. The participants considered the high cost of housing the main cause of poverty. The situation was made more challenging by age discrimination in the course of job search, resulting in unemployment or employment that underpays. On a positive note, the study also showed that families who used the Settlement’s services regularly found more satisfaction and meaning in life when compared to other low income families. The Settlement introduced a one-stop poverty alleviation service in 2013. Besides providing tangible aid to those in need, it adheres to the holistic approach to social services that sees to the well-being of a person in every aspect.
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