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127
THE HOUSING QUESTION.
The housing policy of the Finsbury Borough Council was
stated in my report for 1901. Only certain portions of that
policy come within the duties of the Public Health Department,
and these have received attention during the year. Briefly, they
are three. First, the improvement of insanitary areas and houses.
Secondly, the keeping of a register of all persons displaced.
Thirdly, the enforcement of the Public Health (London) Act,
in respect to house property and overcrowding. In previous reports
I have discussed in some detail the general position of the housing
question in Finsbury and the necessary steps that should be taken.
The past year has been occupied in continuing to take these steps.
I propose to deal strictly with the above-mentioned points of
insanitary areas and the maintenance of sanitation in house
property. A register is being kept of persons displaced in any
houses closed on account of Borough Council action.
For convenience this section dealing with the HousingQuestion
will be sub-divided under three main headings. In the
first place the insanitary areas under the London County Council
will be considered; then the smaller insanitary areas receiving
the attention of this Department ; and thirdly, the general
question of the maintenance of sanitation in house property and
the reduction of overcrowding.
The particulars which follow, respecting the areas now being
dealt with by the London County Council, bring the facts of the
case up to date. These facts are printed here for purposes of
reference, and because of their importance. They show in
a very clear manner the steady degeneration of property in the
areas during the process of reform, and furnish many illustrations
of the difficulties of housing work in Finsbury, and the causes of
the overcrowding in some parts of the Borough.