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(a) the statutory obligation to provide accommodation
in cases of persons rendered homeless through fire
or flood;
(b) the responsibility to care for families rendered
homeless in other circumstances e.g. eviction or
domestic breakdown.
From the 1st April 1965, the responsibility for temporary
accommodation was delegated to the Housing Department, but this
function was taken over by the Health and Welfare Department as from
the 1st April 1968,
Many homeless families have social problems in addition to
that of housing, and a high proportion of the families dealt with
became homeless because of their failure to pay the rent of their
previous accommodation and, despite the preventive work undertaken,
the department experienced many difficulties.
The accommodation for homeless families taken over by the
department was four single room units and four double room units, but
during the period to the 31st December 1968, there were times when the
double roomed unit contained some seven families in different combinations
of accommodation. It has been the policy of the department to
take the enlightened and humane view of not separating the husbands
from their wives, nor children from their parents.
The emergency accommodation of the homeless is one part of
a complex and deeply troubled problem affecting the welfare of families
against the general background of a housing shortage and extensive
social welfare fieldwork in the closest collaboration with other departments
is necessary. This has been particularly hard work because of
the shortage of social welfare officers.
Applications Dealt With -1st April 1968 to 31st December 1968:
Received 95
Accepted for admission 26
Families Leaving Temporary Accommodation;
Rehoused by Housing Department 12
Private arrangement 2
Families Remaining in Temporary Accommodation 12
Number of Persons Resident in Homeless Family
Accommodation at 31st December 1968:
Men 8
Women 12
Children 18