"Food To-Gather" Short-term Food Assistance Service Team (Shamshuipo)

Introduction

Upon the regularization of "Short-term Food Assistance Service" in August 2021, the Social Welfare Department commissioned non-governmental organisations to operate Short-term Food Assistance Service Projects covering the whole territory. Hong Kong Christian Service "Food To-Gather" Short-term Food Assistance Service Team (Shamshuipo) has been established since 1st August 2021 to provide short-term food assistance to underprivileged individuals and families in Shamshuipo.

Service objectives

The Service Team will provide short-term food assistance to help individuals or families who have proven difficulties in coping with their daily food expenditure to tide over temporary and/or sudden financial problems.

Service contents

We provide not more than 8 weeks of short-term food assistance for eligible applicants. After the assessment procedure, eligible applicants will be arranged to collect food weekly at specified times and service points. The food distributed mainly includes rice, canned food, non-staple food, hot meal coupons and supermarket food coupons. For those eligible applicants with special needs, a tailor-made food collection plan would be arranged after assessment by the Service Team.

Service targets

1. Residents in Shamshuipo;
2. Individuals and families from low-income groups, unemployed, new arrivals, street sleepers and individuals or families encountering sudden change and facing immediate financial hardship; 
3. Applicants with other special needs must be verified by the Service Team.

Eligibility criteria

1. Applicants must be Hong Kong Residents who are living in Shamshuipo district and not receiving Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA);
2. Applicants should have reasonable and clear needs, and short-term food assistance can alleviate their plight and give them appropriate help;
3. The monthly income and assets of the applicants or household members shall not exceed the prescribed limits set by the SWD.

Application Procedure

• Please contact the Service Team for enquiry.
• Eligible applicants please call to make assessment appointments by themselves or through referral organisations to submit applications.
• Applicants are required to submit completed application forms and provide the required supporting documents, including the identification, residential and income, assets proof, etc., of the applicant and household members for eligibility assessment.
• Applicants who fail to hand in the required supporting documents may cause delays or turned down for their applications.
• The Service Team reserves the right to make the final decision on approval of all applications.

Service Termination

• Service users may contact the Service Team for arrangements if they would like to withdraw from the service.
• When service users no longer meet the eligibility criteria, the Service Team will terminate the service.
• If improper use is found, the Service Team has the right to terminate the service immediately.
• Please notify the Service Team, if service users no longer need the service, and thus resources could be allocated to people in need.