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33
The high percentage of families with material problems can
be related to a number of factors. Most of the fathers are unskilled.
Many are physically, mentally, or psychologically incapable of the
type of work which produces a stable, adequate income. Several are
sub-contracting drivers or builders' labourers which jobs,although
providing very high wages for several weeks at a time, often means
that for long periods when there is no work available they are
reduced to social security benefits. A few are so disabled that
they may well be deemed "unemployable".
Those families with a constant low income find that they
are unable to save for emergency replacements such as outgrown or
outworn essential clothing. Many who do enjoy high incomes, at least
for a period, are so emotionally immature they are unable to practice
deferred gratification and during the phase of comparative prosperity
indulge themselves and their children by purchasing,either outright
or on hire purchase, expensive non-essentials, thus incurring heavy
debt s.
A family with a low income and several children has the
greatest difficulty in finding private rented accommodation. In
desperation they may well take on a tenancy at a rent which is beyond
their means and after a short time find themselves in arrears of
rent and threatened with eviction„ The most satisfactory form of
housing for such families would therefore seem to be that provided
by the Council on a differential rent or rent rebate basis.
Unfortunately, as experience and studies have shown, there
are families, who although housed in Council property at an economic
rent, nevertheless fall into arrears. These fall into three main
categories, as stated in "Unsatisfactory Tenants", the sixth report
of the Housing Management Sub-committee of the Central Housing
Advisory Committee.
(i) Those whose income is so low that they are
genuinely unable to pay their existing rents.
This position may arise from a change in capacity
to earn, following retirement or ill-health.
(ii) Tenants whose incomes should be adequate to meet
the rent charged but who cannot be induced to
pay it with any regularity.
(iii) Those families who are so incompetent in managing
their affairs generally that they are constantly
in debt. Often these are people whose incomes
are very irregular.
Whilst working with families "at risk" therefore, the
officers concerned assist them to make use of the services available