A free housing and behavior correction service will open in Pudong New Area next month to help youths addicted to the Internet, Pudong officials said.

The 22-bed Youth Aid and Protection Center will provide free accommodation for young men who refuse to go back home because they are addicted to the Internet or because their online activities cause conflict with parents.

A team of psychological counselors and licensed social workers will help the youths during their stay.

Widely used in Western countries, half-way houses are places where teenagers with problems can stay while receiving monitoring and support.

The city's first half-way house, the Rainbow Center, was set up in 2006 to provide 24-hour accommodation when social workers found it difficult to persuade children to return home at night.

"They want to escape beatings, the shouting and endless quarreling between their parents, and that's why they would rather have nights in Internet cafes than at home," said social worker Wang Hui.

"Basically the new service organization functions the same as the Rainbow Center," said Wang.

Local people can have access to the center by calling the hotline, 123-55.

(Shanghai Daily April 7, 2008)