Single-parent families face loss of emotional support
Single-parent families yesterday complained that they would soon lose their 'second homes' as five centres that have served more than 8,700 people would close in April to cut government costs.
The centres, established three years ago to help people overcome problems arising from single parenthood, cost the government about $8.5 million a year.
The Social Welfare Department has told the families to seek help from 66 family service centres - more than 40 run by the government and the remainder by non-government organisations.
But single parent Julia Lam Yuk-ling said the families were unlikely to turn to other support centres.
'Services at the single-parent centres are tailor-made for us. Social workers at other centres are less well-trained in emotional problems arising from single parenthood,' she said.
In a recent survey by Fernando Cheung Chiu-hung, an applied social sciences lecturer from the Polytechnic University, 90 per cent of 289 single-parent family members said the centres provided huge emotional support.
Only 10 per cent said they would turn to other social service centres. 'These centres have established a social network of support for these single parents. Many of them are struggling on the verge of suicide,' Dr Cheung said. 'I cannot understand why the government would have to close them.'
