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Providence-row Refuge.—This institution, among other branches of work, provides a fre«
shelter, containing accommodation for men and women, the object being to provide the inmates with
a home while work is being found. The dormitories are fitted with bunks. In the basement are
trough water-closets and a wash-house fitted with basins. Provision is made for 112 women.
Sir George's Residence, High-street, Whitechapel.—This is a resident home for young women
under 25 years of age, and provides accommodation for 60. It is a good house fitted up with cubicles,
and having all necessary provision. A charge of 3s. 6d. per week is made for a cubicle and for
breakfast and supper, dinner can be had on payment of 4d. ; meals on Sunday are free. At present
there are only 42 women in the house, and this number, I was told, was rather above the average.
The women are mostly employed in the neighbourhood as cigar makers, michinists, tailoresses, and in
tea-shops; they are not admitted without a reference.
Field-lane Refuge, Holborn.—This is a refuge for destitute men and women, 20 women being
accommodated. The dormitory for women is one good large room in which meals are also taken.
Below is a washhouse and water-closets, in the former are slate washing troughs, and also two
baths and three washing basins. Women are taken in here without charge, and are allowed 14
nights' lodging while they find work, breakfast and tea being provided.
Church Army Homes, Paddington.—There are a series of homes belonging to the Church Army;
the first in Shouldham-street contains eight beds, which are all free. The inmates stay only two or
three days as a rule, and are then drafted to the other homes, being classified for this purpose. At 27,
Nutford-place is a labour home, dormitory accommodation being provided for 17. The ground floor
is used as a laundry, in which the inmates are employed; any sum they earn in the laundry over
6s. per week is placed to their credit.
At No. 29 in the same street accommodation for 10 women is provided. This is a rescue home,
and the women are employed in needlework.
At No. 32, also in the same street, is a boarding house. It contains 22 beds, placed in cubicles,
and charges are made of 7s. and 8s. per week for board and lodging. A few lodge in the house without
receiving food, and pay 4s. 6d. a week. The house was full at the time of my visit, and is generally
full. It is not found that it pays its working expenses.
Shaftesbury Institute, Union-street, Edgware-road.—In this house sleeping accommodation is
provided for 60 lodgers who pay 2d. a night, the beds being leather-covered mattresses which are laid
on the floor with a leather coverlet lined with felt. There are also 10 beds in other rooms let at 6d.
per night, these are iron bedsteads with good seaweed mattresses and sheets and blankets. Supper and
breakfast can be obtained at a charge of Id. each meal. The 2d. beds are practically always filled, but
this is not the case with the others. The house is less occupied in winter than in summer, owing
probably to free shelters being open in the former and not in the latter season. No one is admitted after
11 p.m., and disorderly persons are refused.
A good lavatory, a bath and two water-closets are provided in the basement. Effort is made to
find employment for people who are received into the house, and a labour home is connected with the
shelter. The institution does not appear to be actually self-supporting.
St. John s-place, Kensington.—This is a free shelter, containing accommodation for 46 women
and children. There is a large dormitory on the first floor with 24 bunks, and on the floor above, ten
bunks in one room and four in each of three other rooms. In the basement is a kitchen, and a washhouse
with five fixed basins, with hot and cold water laid on, and two baths. The ground floor is used
for religious services. Women under 25 years of age or over that age with children are received into the
house. The house was not full at the time of my visit, but I was informed it was generally full. The
inmates are permitted to stay three nights, and are then not re-admitted until after an interval of
another seven nights. Food was until recently supplied; this has been recently discontinued owing
to want of funds.
Newport Market Refuge, Westminster.—This refuge is only used in winter, and provides free
accommodation for 30 men and 26 women. One large room is fitted up with 26 hammocks for the women ;
each hammock is supplied with four blankets, and here are also two cubicles for casual reduced ladies.
A good washhouse is provided, having washtubs and five fixed basins with cold water laid on.
Breakfast and supper, consisting of bread and dripping, cocoa and tea are provided free in the large
room referred to. The refuge is intended for genuine working men and women who are seeking
work. Children are not actually refused, and sometimes the husband is in the male ward and the
wife and child in the female. The inmates are not permitted to stay mere than seven nights.
Unfortunates are not received, and hence, I am told, there is only a demand for accommodation
for six or seven persons per night in winter.
Shirley F. Murphy,
Medical Officer of Health