Short-term Food Assistance Service Team

Introduction

Since 1st August 2021, the Social Welfare Department (SWD) has commissioned St. James’ Settlement to operate Short-term Food Assistance Service (STFAS) in Eastern, Wanchai, Central and Western, Southern and Islands Districts to help individuals and families who have difficulties in coping with their daily food expenditure.

Service Content

To provide free packaged food like rice, noodles, canned food, etc.

Districts Served

Wanchai District
Central and Western District
Eastern District
Southern District

Service Targets

Hong Kong residents, including the following groups whose household income and assets shall not exceed the prescribed limits set by SWD:

Low-income family
Unemployed
Family encountering sudden changes
Street sleeper
Non-CSSA recipient

Income and Asset Limit

Household Size	Monthly Income Limit^	Household Asset Limit*
1-person	$11,000	$102,000
2-person	$18,700	$135,000
3-person	$22,360	$202,500
4-person	$26,100	$270,000
5-person	$26,880
6-person or above	$29,400

^ “Monthly Income Limits” have not included employees’ mandatory contribution to a Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) Scheme (i.e. 5% of employees’ salary). In case the “income” has included employees’ mandatory contribution to a MPF Scheme (i.e. 5% of employees’ salary), the “effective income level” will be $11,578 (1 pers on application), $19,684 (2 person application), $23,536 (3 person application), $27,473 (4 person application), $28,294 (5 person application) and $30,947 (6 person or above application).

* The asset limit is increased by $35,000 for each elderly applicant or household member aged 60 or above. Self-occupied properties are excluded from the calculation of household asset.

Application Procedures

Eligible applicants please contact service organisation to make appointment with social workers, or through referral organisations to submit applications. Applicants are required to submit application form (must be filled in by social workers) and provide identification, residential documents, income and assets proof, etc., of the applicant and household members for eligibility assessment.

Required documents

Prior to handing in the application form, referral workers should fill in the form and remind the applicant to prepare the following documents:

Proof of Identity

Hong Kong Identity Card/ identification documents or birth certificates of applicant and that of his/ her family member(s)

Remark: If applicants cannot provide identity cards, please provide other documents that help to prove the applicants’ identity.

Information about Residency

Address proof in recent three months (e.g. Copy of tenancy agreement, electricity bill, water bill, etc.)

Information about Income

Proof of household income in recent six months for the applicant and family members, for example, pay slip, Employer’s Return of Remuneration and Pensions or other types of income proof. If applicants have left the company, please provide proof of resignation.

Assets documents

All bank books/ bank statements of the applicant and family members with the updated balance within 7 days; a copy of the first page of the bank book showing the name of the account holder and account number, and that of the pages showing the transactions of recent six months (including the cancelled accounts within recent six months).
* If the bank account is newly opened, please provide the first page of bank book with the name of account holder and account number, as well as the page with the initial balance.
Time deposit balance/ statement in recent six months of the applicant and family members
All investments of the applicant and family members, with documents showing the cash value and dividend (e.g. Anniversary Statement, Insurance Policy Quarterly Statement, Stocks, Bonds, Funds etc.)
Proof of other assets, including properties, parking spaces and bank accounts outside Hong Kong

Note

All copies should be readable.

Please fill in the form and return it together with the required documents by fax to one of the following centres:

Applicants living in Central & Western, Southern, Islands, Eastern and Wan Chai

St. James' Settlement People's Food Bank (Wan Chai)

6/F, 85 Stone Nullah Lane, Wan Chai

Tel : 2596 2746
Fax : 2596 2754

St. James' Settlement Short-term Food Assistance Service Team (Eastern District)

Flat E, 35/F, E-Trade Plaza, 24 Lee Chung Street, Chai Wan

Tel : 2742 0172
Fax : 2742 0217

St. James' Settlement Sai On Centre

Shop 1-3, G/F, Fortune Court, 10 Sai On Lane, Sai Ying Pun

Tel : 2975 8777
Fax : 2915 5215

Applicants living outside Central & Western, Southern, Islands, Eastern and Wan Chai

St. James' Settlement Kindness Centre (Kwai Chung)

Lower G/F, Shek Foon House, Shek Lei (II) Estate, Kwai Chung, N.T.

Tel : 2706 3798
Fax : 2706 3090

St. James' Settlement Kindness Centre (Shek Kip Mei)

Room 1-3, G/F, Man Hing House, Tai Hang Sai Estate, Shek Kip Mei, Kowloon

Tel : 3586 9944
Fax : 3586 9844