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78
It must be understood that the type of family in need of constant
supervision is less likely to respond to social re-education
if there is unemployment or lack of matrimonial happiness. In
many families the lack of initiative is the first noticeable
feature and usually this arises from an insufficient income and
in the case of the husbands, the inability to keep employment.
I have tried to make these families understand that the well
being of the family is part of the family life and not a burden
to be passed to another person. If the families are willing to
be helped, e.g. with employment, budgetting and care of the children,
then one could say that the rehabil itationof that particular
family had commenced. A problem family could exist quite happily
within the home, but when the children suffer through lack of
proper food and clothing and the community suffers through continued
non-payment of rent or essential services then some one
must help this family back to be part of a community and nota
burden to it.
In my opinion many families in the Receiving Homes could be
helped but because of the fact that they are living in a Receiving
Home (and this appears in some cases to beget a grudge) they will
not accept the fact that they could start under their present
conditions to prepare for a permanent home for the future. It is
necessary to find out why admission to a Receiving Home was
necessary and then to build up a family unit to be independent
and self -supporting in the future.
I would like to point out that the children in the Receiving
Homes are as well cared for as other children in the same income
group living in their own homes. The constant supervision in the
Receiving Homes also helps to keep the standard from falling
below the accepted standard of this group.
I would also like to say that these children sutler
physically nowadays, but it would also be necessary to bear in
mind that family matters - non-payment of debts and all particulars
relating to the family and other families are discussed in
front of these children. Therefore, it could be assumed that
these children grow up with an intimate knowledge of family
affairs which is not conductive to good citizenship later.
As the Receiving Homes are being used as a residential centre
for the Homeless Families it would appear that the social case
work could be more advantageously applied if the Homes were used
not merely as a place for Homeless Families but as a centre for
the gradual rehabilitation of the families progress towards their
ultimate new living.