London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
London County Council 1932
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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18
Common and
seamen s
lodging
houses
Administration
The supervision of the 150 common lodging houses licensed by the Council
under the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1902, entailed 5,208 day
visits and 120 night visits by the inspectors. The supervision of the 20 seamen's
lodging houses licensed under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, entailed 460 visits
by day and 28 by night.
Census of
homeless
persons
A census of homeless persons in London was taken on the night of Friday, 12th
February, 1932. The area covered extended over the whole of the county, except
such of the outlying portions as are not usually the resort of such persons. The
night was clear and cold. No persons were found sheltering under arches or on
staircases. In the streets 73 men and 14 women were found, compared with 60 men
and 18 women on the night of the census in 1931. In the common lodging houses
13,966 persons were accommodated compared with 14,970 in 1931. In the free
shelters and labour homes not licensed, 1,208 men, 138 women and 20 children were
accommodated compared with 1,057 men, 137 women and 17 children in 1931.
The number of persons in casual wards and in the associated hostel on the night in
question was 836 (805 men and 31 women).
| Persona. | Persons. | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year. | Common lodging houses (Inmates) | Casual wards (Inmates) | Homeless. | Total. | Year. | Common lodging houses (Inmates) | Casual wards (Inmates) | Homeless. | Total. |
Note—The area covered in 1904 was less than in later years—to be comparable with other years the
figures in the "Homeless" column should be 2,000.