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COMMON LODGING HOUSE:
There is only one Common Lodging House known in the Borough,
namely that for men situated at 88 Old Street, E. C.l. which is
owned and maintained by the Salvation Army, The premises were
licensed for 313 inmates on the basis of the standard laid down
by the London County Council, prior to the transfer of functions
in 1933, at the beginning of the year.
Separate quarters are provided for the Deputy Keeper and staff,
but the common sleeping rooms are large dormitories on the upper
floors, the kitchen, dining room and office being on the ground
floor, and the washing facilities and lockers in the basement.
The main sanitary accommodation is situated in the ground floor
yard, but additional toilet facilities are also provided on each
bedroom floor.
The conditions in this lodging house are far from satisfactory,
although standards of hygiene reasonable in all the circumstances,
are maintained, A large number of occupants stay there only for
a short period, but probably some 50 to 100 mostly older men, make
the premises their home for a considerable time.
The number of inmates is too great to allow of any real comfort
being given or welfare work being undertaken by the limited staff.
During 1958 a survey of the conditions prevailing in this
lodging house was carried out by a voluntary organisation with
which the Borough Council was associated.
It is clear from the results of this survey and from other
investigations that this place serves a useful purpose in helping
a number of men who are unable or unsuitable to settle down in
ordinary domestic life, but there are opportunities offered here
to help them in their many social problems, of which advantage
has never been made.
Many visits of inspection were made by the Medical Officer of
Health and Public Health Inspectors during the year. It is
apparent that the building as it at present exists, has been so
crowded as to prevent any reasonable degree of comfort or convenience
for those using it, and that their mental and physical
health might well thereby be endangered.
The Council gave much detailed consideration as to the renewal
of the licence which fell due towards the end of the year. In
view of the undertaking given by the owners to effect a number of
improvements, it was finally agreed to renew the licence for a
total of 275 men, thus reducing the number of residents permitted
from the 313 previously allowed.
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