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127
Prevention
50. Just as the number of families provided with temporary
accommodation was less in 1966/67 than in 1965/66, so also was
the number of families dealt with by social welfare officers. In
1965/66, 134 families applied for temporary accommodation compared
with 78 families in 1966/67. The percentage of applicants
admitted to temporary accommodation in the two years, however,
did not vary greatly—20% in 1965/66; 19% in 1966/67.
51. The reduction in the number of families rendered homeless in
the Borough can probably be attributed to the greater security given
to tenants by the Rent Act. 1965, and the close liaison between the
social services departments in preventing homelessness arising. It
is difficult to assess the number of family units required without
relating this to the general shortage of housing accommodation
and eliminating the elements of deterrence or rationing which are
inescapable when demand exceeds the supply.
52. The policy of the Borough was re-examined in January, 1967,
by a Joint Committee of the Housing and Welfare Committee. It
was agreed that families would not be rehoused by the Housing
Department following eviction from non-local-authority properties,
except in exceptional circumstances. They would first be the concern
of the Chief Welfare Officer whose responsibility it would be
to determine whether temporary accommodation was to be
provided. Those families who were evicted by the Housing Committee
would also be the concern of this department. However,
evictions for non-payment of rent are often avoided by a rent
guarantee made by the Children's Committee under the Children's
Act, 1963. Arrangements for early notification of families at risk,
introduced when the Secretary to the Social Services Liaison
Committee was appointed, also gave greater opportunities to
officers in the social service departments to prevent homelessness
arising.
WELFARE SERVICES FOR THE PHYSICALLY
HANDICAPPED (GENERAL CLASSES)
The Register
53. The Register is kept in accordance with the requirements of
the Ministry of Health. The grouping of disabilities is in accordance
with the Medical Research Council code of diseases and
disabilities as used by the Ministry of Labour. A further 102
persons were assisted under the scheme during the year—the
majority of the new registrations were 34 in category F (arthritis
and rheumatism) and 38 in Category V (organic nervous diseases).
Social Welfare
54. Visits by social welfare officers to the homes of handicapped