A transitional housing site is offering free, long-term shelter and support to dozens of families who were displaced by the building blaze in the Tai Po area of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).
The fire, which broke out at the Wang Fuk Court residential complex on Nov. 26, was the the deadliest Hong Kong has witnessed for many decades, with the devastating blaze leaving at least 159 dead, 79 injured and thousands of families homeless.
In the wake of the tragedy, volunteers have come forward to offer assistance to the survivors and their families, while programs are in place to provide accommodation to those who lost their homes.
Lok Sin Village, the largest transitional housing project in Tai Po, was initially built to offer a comfortable and stable place for people waiting for public housing. Now it has become home to 82 families, or more than 200 people, who have been displaced by the recent fire.
The site also has a supply station, where considerate residents have donated everyday items which can be distributed to the displaced families.
"We set up this supply station voluntarily. These supplies come from different places and were donated by kind-hearted people. In the first few days, the residents might lack small and basic things like chopsticks or clothes hangers, so we, the neighbors, gave them items from our own homes," said a local resident and volunteer at the site.
Essentials are already in place in each of the apartments here, with a small kitchen for cooking, a bed with mattress, a clean bathroom and essential appliances such as TV, fridge, and microwave.
Residents are not required to pay rent or any utility fees. The Housing Bureau has clarified that this isn't just a temporary measure effective for the first few months, stating that families will receive the same support for as long as they need.
"All the organizations understand that, given the residents' urgent needs, we would not be charging any rent. At the very least, these units offer longer rental periods, so they won’t need to worry about rent and can have a stable place to live," said Cherry Lee, director of the Lok Sin Village transitional housing project.
The support also extends beyond practical assistance, with personal help also on hand to help the victims through this difficult period. Each household has been paired with a dedicated social worker to assist them with any needs, including psychological care, under what is been called a "one social worker, per household" mechanism.
"After the fire, many types of support became available in the community. People were offering supplies, emergency shelter, and various types of financial help. Social workers help consolidate information, pass it on to the affected residents, and support them in finding suitable community resources. Seeing how strong the mobilization across society has been, the residents at least know they are not alone. Everyone is working together to support them," Lee said.
Community offers long-term shelter for families displaced in Hong Kong building fire
