Market stimulus package used to build homeless minor assistance net

The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) will allocate 140 million yuan from the fourth batch of the central government's investment in boosting domestic demand to continue to implement the "Plan to develop a homeless minor assistance and protection scheme during the 'Eleventh Five-Year Plan' period."

To date, 360 million yuan investment has been allocated, supporting 230 projects of this kind.

By 2010, China will have homeless minor assistance and protection facilities in 84 percent of prefecture-level cities. It is estimated that these facilities will add 35,000 new beds and will cover six times more areas than 2007.

At the end of 2007, China had more than 130 facilities with the capacity to offer more than 100,000 homeless minors professional assistance and protection annually. Such assistance includes temporary living quarters, counseling and delinquent behavioral correction.

In addition, the Ministry of Civil Affairs will also recruit professionals to these facilities to help homeless minors.