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On the night of the last census (15th January) there was heavy rain between 11 p.m. and 11.30 p.m.
Afterwards although the weather was fine there was a very strong, cold wind. Having regard to these
conditions it might be expected that a large number of persons would be found taking shelter on staircases
or under arches, and it is somewhat surprising that only 49 men and 39 women were so found. In
1907 on a fine night, only 50 persons were found on staircases and under arches, while in 1904, when
the night was wet, as many as 100 males and 68 females had thus found shelter.
It will be noted that the number of homeless women found in 1909 is less than in 1907,
and, further, that decrease is manifested in the number of women occupying either single
beds or sharing "doubles" in the licensed common lodging houses. It does not appear that this
decrease in the number of women is due to larger use being made of the free accommodation provided
by philanthropic bodies, and it is an interesting fact that in the two homes instituted by the late
Dr. Barnardo, the one at St. John's-place, Kensington, the other at Commercial-street, Whitechapel,
into which are admitted, free of charge, women with children and girls under twenty years of age, the
accommodation provided was in excess of the demand. Thus in the Kensington home, on the night
in question there were only 6 females and 15 children although the house is licensed for 43 women,
and in the Whitechapel home, where there are 71 beds there were only 22 women and 8 children.
Indeed the wife of the deputy of the latter house stated that while the average number of inmates
was about 40 the number had recently frequently fallen as low as 10.
The number of persons found on the Embankment waiting for the distribution of tickets by the
Salvation and Church Army officers was 1,350. Of these 600 received tickets from the Church Army
and 640 received tickets from the Salvation Army, so that 110 men received no tickets. At a free
shelter in Limehouse, however, 114 men received a meal of bread between midnight and 4 a.m., and this
number may have included a number who were unable to obtain tickets on the Embankment.
In comparing the number of homeless persons in the several years, it is desirable to have
regard to the number of persons found in common lodging houses, shelters, and casual wards, as many
persons frequenting these institutions may, upon occasion, find themselves among the homeless. On
each occasion therefore of numbering the homeless, a census has been taken of the common lodging
house population on the particular night, and by the courtesy of Mr J. S. Davy, C.B., of the
Local Government Board I have been supplied with similar returns in respect of the casual wards. The
following table shows the extent to which use was made of the authorised accommodation in
licensed common lodging houses on the nights of the several censuses since and including 1904:—

* These figures do not include the persons in the unlicensed homes and institutions referred to in table No. IV.,
and who might be regarded as belonging to the common lodging house class.