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The Council decided upon a far-reaching reorganisation relating to homeless families,
involving the allocation of social workers and full-time resident staff to provide intensive case
work and training. As a result of this, it was possible to recommend a substantial number of
families for rehousing, or assist them to find other solutions to their housing problems; and the
number of families for whom the Council was responsible was so reduced that in October, 1966,
one of the blocks of flats was closed. Social Workers also began giving such families earlier
advice in an attempt to avoid their becoming homeless. During the year to 31st December, 1966,
297 applications for accommodation were made by people who feared they would become homeless,
but only 30 families were subsequently admitted to temporary accommodation because they were
homeless. These measures resulted in the reduction of the number of families in temporary accommodation
from 92 at the beginning of the year to 57 by the end of it. In the special unit training
facilities were set up for 5 families. A second rehabilitation unit for 6 or 7 families, and a reception
unit sited within the Borough, were then in course of adaptation, to be opened early in 1967.
Services for the Blind and Physically-Handicapped.
During the year under review there was little alteration in the scope of the services for
blind and other handicapped people. Additional instructors and assistants were engaged, but the
Centre at Qlythe Hall is not large enough to accommodate the number of people who wish to attend.
The Council has, therefore, agreed in principle to the building of a large Centre in the Star Road
Area development. The pooling, with two other Boroughs, of transport for the disabled was discontinued,
and transport facilities are now adequate, comprising two coaches with lifts for wheelchairs,
and four utilibuses. Holidays were arranged at The Century Holiday Camp, Shepperton,
and at Clacton; and outings were organised, including late evening shopping expeditions. In
October, 1966, a shop was opened where aids and appliances for the handicapped are on view. It
also sells articles made at various Centres and Homes, and privately by blind and handicapped
people.

Domiciliary Services for the Elderly.
Unification of the services formerly provided by the Metropolitan Borough Councils has
been completed but, because of the insufficiency of trained social workers, visiting has been
limited mainly to urgent cases. There has been close association with other services including
home help, home bathing, chiropody, laundry and home nursing.
Holidays.
The former arrangements by which elderly, blind, and physically-handicapped people had
early or late seaside holidays during "Senior Citizens Weeks" were superseded by holiday
arrangements covering the whole Summer season. Holidays were of two weeks duration, and a
revised assessment scheme ensured that financial considerations would not prevent elderly
residents from taking them. 474 people took advantage of these arrangements. Outings were also
arranged, and these were responsible for over 1,000 people having coach trips to the seaside, and
river trips. Over 2,000 Christmas parcels were delivered to elderly people known to be deserving
of them; and every effort was made to ensure that no person received more than one parcel from
any source.
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