View report page

105
ameliorate this state of affairs, but it is hopeless to
attempt to solve the problem merely by providing
accommodation. Unless the accommodation is within
the means of the overcrowded families, it is useless to
them. Nor is there much substance in the argument
which has been used, that the provision of this new
accommodation leads to a " shifting up " of families,
whereby the tenements vacated by families going to
municipal houses are occupied by overcrowded families
from still inferior tenements. The fact is, that the
demand for accommodation, both residential and
industrial, in and around the central districts of
London is so great, and the rental level accordingly so
high (apart from letting restrictions), that the tenements
set free by families entering municipal estates
are in practice rarely available to the poor overcrowded
families in slum property.
RENT AND NUTRITION.
Another aspect of the same matter is seen in the
danger of families with limited income taking housing
accommodation, the rents or incidental expenses of
which are beyond their means, except at the expense
of nutrition. Much valuable research during the past
few years has shown that serious malnutrition may be
an unexpected but wholly evil result of well meant
efforts for improved housing. Various schemes have
been devised to solve this problem, notably the
plan of rebates for children, and the Leeds scheme
of differential rents according to income.
UNDERGROUND ROOMS.
Attention is periodically called to the use of
underground rooms for sleeping purposes, but beyond
the endeavour to prevent the separate letting of such
rooms when vacated, it has not been deemed practicable
to deal with the matter, owing to the shortage of
accommodation within the means of the people.