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160
Census of
homeless
persons.
Common
lodginghouses.
Seamen's
lodginghouses.
conveniences for men and women in London, including the parks and open spaces,
and the hours during which they are available, information was obtained in 1928
from the authorities concerned, who also afforded facilities for any necessary
inspections, and the county medical officer prepared a comprehensive report on the
subject.* In the report some point3 and questions were raised as to matters requiring
consideration, but the survey showed that, speaking generally, and in spite of some
imperfections, a very satisfactory standard of sanitary provision had been
attained. The provision of public conveniences in London being primarily a matter
for the City Corporation and the metropolitan borough councils, their observations
on the report were invited. Most of the authorities in question offered no
observations or did not reply, but no doubt a useful purpose has been served by
the making of the survey and the direction of the attention of those concerned to
certain needs. No further action was therefore taken by the Council in the matter.
Particulars are given in Chapter I (p. 20) of the result of the census of homeless
persons taken in February, 1929. The total numbers of homeless persons found
in the streets, on staircases and under arches at the censuses in recent years were :—
1915,178 ; 1916, 44 ; 1917, 28 ; 1918, 9 ; 1919, 8 ; 1920, 51 ; 1921, 56 ; 1922,112 ;
1923, 141 ; 1924, 82 ; 1925, 118 ; 1926, 103 ; 1927, 101 ; 1928, 78 ; and 1929, 31.

On the occasion of the census of homeless persons in February, 1929,123 children
were found in common lodging-houses in London as compared with the average
of about 70 in recent previous years. The large majority were accommodated in
houses conducted by charitable organisations, which are either in touch with the
local infant welfare centres or have trained staff of their own. Even so, the whole
atmosphere and associations of a common-lodging-house cannot but be regarded
as bad for any child, and anything longer than a temporary stay is undesirable.
Action was taken by the Council in 1928 to discourage the admission of children
at the ordinary type of common lodging-house, and the retention of children in any
common lodging-house for an indefinite period (see Annual Report for 1928, Vol.
111, p. 164).

* Public conveniences in London. No. 2613. Price 2d.