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17
SECTION C
HOUSING
Rehousing.
Applications for rehousing by the Borough Council are
made to the Housing Department, 218, Goldhawk Road,
Shepherds Bush, W.12.
Requests are received from the Housing Estates Manager
asking for inspections to be made with a view to ascertaining
whether a family is living in overcrowded conditions. Enquiries
are then made by the Sanitary Inspectors and, if a family is found
to be living in such conditions, overcrowding is duly certified.
In many cases the request is accompanied by medical certificates
supporting the family's application on medical grounds,
and careful consideration is given that recommendations are
made only for the most urgent cases, having regard to the nature
of the illness, the condition of the premises and the amenities
available.
Applications for rehousing by the London County Council
are made to that body, and requests are received from them via
the Housing Estates Manager, for similar enquiries to be made.
In cases where there is medical evidence the Medical Officer of
Health to the London County Council is responsible for allocating
priorities on health grounds.
Reports are also asked for and supplied in regard to existing
overcrowding and sanitary condition of premises.
387 enquiries regarding rehousing were received in the
Department during the year. 187 families were found upon
investigation to be living in overcrowded conditions, and particulars
of this were passed to the Housing Department for
transmission to the London County Council.
27 cases were recommended for rehousing on ground of
health, tuberculosis, inadequate hygienic facilities for the proper
care of babies and young children and many other health risks.
In addition to the above, a recommendation for rehousing
of a special character was made to the Borough Council's Housing
Department in cases where the applicant represented a
recently married family who were expecting a baby, or where
there were young children already living in unhygienic surroundings
which I considered inadequate to maintain the high level of
health which is so vital in the family unit in its early stages.
These applications are most important. In spite of their many
difficult responsibilities, the Housing Department accept these
recommendations and do the best they can in each case. During