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eviction. 67 applications were made under this heading. In practically all these cases there was
much work for the social welfare officers who experience great frustration in trying to cope with
the seemingly never-ending problems. The number of families without friends or relatives to whom
to turn are comparatively small but the stresses and strains which fall upon the Department are
large out of all proportion. After much exhausting work in each case 50 out of the 67 applications
finally were helped to make their own arrangements.
Until the end of December homeless families were accommodated at Suttons Hostel,
Hornchurch, but a new Hostel for 8 families has been opened at Woodlands, Larkshall Road,
Highams Park, E.4., which was not available until early 1966. The social welfare officers will
endeavour to rehabilitate the families and those who respond to help and show their behaviour
pattern as being more acceptable to the community will qualify for consideration by the Housing
Committee which then has the problem of finding sub-standard housing of a less temporary nature.
It is now generally agreed that old people should be supported in their own homes for as
long as possible. Doctors, relatives, social workers, home nurses, home helps, all help in the
preservation of independence and the ensurance that basic needs are met.
Until May the W.V.S. were supplying meals at the Harold Clarke Luncheon Club but this
service was taken over by the Council when they found they could not continue it. The W.V.S.
continued to supply the meals-on-wheels at Chingford and the Council supplied the meals at the
luncheon clubs at Selborne Restaurant, E.17., St. Emmanuel Hall, E.10., the Alice Burrell Centre,
E.10, Davies Lane, E.ll and the meals-on-wheels at Walthamstow and Leyton. From the growing
numbers of applications for meals more luncheon clubs will soon be required and more vans for the
delivery of meals to people's homes.
The numbers of meals served at luncheon clubs and to the housebound by the Council and
at Chingford by the W.V.S. are shown on page 56.
Walking aids, pick-up sticks, raised toilet seats and other small items of equipment were
provided to help maintain independence, and electric overhead heaters were installed where elderly
people were no longer physically capable of keeping a coal fire going.
The Alice Burrell Centre was used by several old people's clubs for weekly meetings and
every Wednesday evening a concert was provided at which an average of 45 old people attended.
14 old people attended Tuesday afternoon lectures given by Miss J.E.Donnison, B.A.
In order to relieve family strain where an old person was being looked after and also to
give an old person some change when living alone, arrangements were made to admit elderly men
and women to one or other of the Council's homes for two weeks. This enabled the family to take
a holiday and also acted as an introduction for the old people to a Home and removed some of the
fear which many have of entering "an institution". The small holiday home for six persons at Bisterne
Avenue which the Council inherited was not a satisfactory house for the purpose as all the bedrooms
were on the first floor and most old people needing care for short periods could not negotiate
the stairs. It was not possible to accept all applications for short stay care owing to shortage of
suitable available accommodation. The house at Bisterne Avenue will in future be used by the
Children's Department.
Up to four persons in need of day-care, who could get there and back under their own steam
or could be transported by the family, attended daily at Alliston, one of the Council's homes, for
companv, meals and bathing. Being looked after in this way helped these old people to continue
to keep on their own homes or continue to live with their families.
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