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25
WELFARE SERVICES
TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION
At the beginning of the year, three hostels (a house in Dartmouth Road, one in Harrow Road, and
two adjoining houses in Nicoll Road) provided short stay accommodation for 31 families, including 8
husbands. In addition, the house in Dartmouth Road provided emergency accommodation with its own cookine
and personal cleansing facilities for 3 women and 15 children.
At the hostel in Dartmouth Road a domestic science leader from the London Council of Social Service
ran a home-making group one day per week. During the year the group had an average attendance of 5-6
mothers who were given instruction in dress-making, cookery, household budgeting, etc. In addition, a play
group leader from the Save the Children Fund attended the Hostel three mornings a week; the sessions are
of great benefit to the children and the mothers, who are given guidance on methods of play and the caring of
their children.
Because of the increasing number of families seeking help during the year and the number who had to
be found alternative accommodation, the Council decided that properties purchased in advance of requirements
in re-development areas, should, if they were in a habitable condition, be offered to the Department for use of
homeless families. During the year, three properties so offered were found to be satisfactory (two in Kilburn
Park Road, one in Brett Road) and are now accommodating an additional 8 families. The Ministry of Transport
also offered the Council temporary use of a property at a rent of £266.10.0 per annum in Balnacraig
Avenue, which was purchased with a view to being demolished in connection with the Neasden Underpass
Scheme. The property was found to be satisfactory and accommodates 2 families.
In April, 1967, the Welfare Services Committee approved the conversion of 54 Winchester Avenue,
N.W.6 into six units of accommodation for homeless families. The property was owned by the Council and
was previously used as an office. The total cost of the conversion scheme agreed by the Council was £14,824.
The necessary work commenced on the 6th November, and is due for completion in May 1968.
The Council also decided in July to purchase No. 13 Nicoll Road, when this property was offered
for sale on the open market. It was considered that its acquisition would be of advantage to the Department
and the Council as it adjoins the existing hostel at 9-11 Nicoll Road. The District Valuer's valuation
was agreed by the vendor, but due to the difficulties of obtaining vacant possession, contracts had not been
exchanged by the end of the year.
On the 1st January, 1967, 31 families (comprising 8 men, 31 women, 75 children) were in temporary
and emergency accommodation, during the year 50 families (16 men, 50 women, 150 children) were admitted
and 44 families (1 man, 44 women, 129 children) discharged, leaving 37 families (23 men, 37 women, 96
children) in residence at the end of the year. Legal evictions due to arrears of rent were the main causes of
homelessness. Of the families discharged, 8 were rehoused by the Council and 36 found their own accommodation.
In addition several voluntary organisations provided accommodation including the Ladyholme Company
Ltd., Provident Row Night Refuge and Home, Ambridge House Foundation and the Salvation Army.
RESIDENTIAL ACCOMMODATION
The total number of beds provided under Section 21(1) (a) of the National Assistance Act, 1948 is
467 allocated as shown below:—
Beds
Coplands 62 Men and Women
Courtffeld 44 Men and Women
Freeland Road 47 Women
Hillcrest 100 Men and Women
Ithell Court 40 Men and Women
Kenton Grange 34 Men and Women
Kingsbury Manor 23 Women
Mardale 18 Women
Shepperton Court 71 Men and Women
Wren Park 28 Women
During the year 104 women and 36 men were admitted to the Council's homes and on the 31st
December, 1967, 24 men and 99 women were on the waiting list for admission.
In addition to the old people accommodated in the above homes, the Council is responsible for the
maintenance of another 198 residents in voluntary and other local authority homes.
A short stay scheme to enable relatives or friends to have a holiday and an elderly person a change
of routine is provided throughout the year. Six beds for women and 4 for men are retained in 3 of the
Wembley Homes. During 1967, 23 men and 54 women were accommodated under the scheme, the average
stay being 19 days.
The building of the new 50 bedded residential home at Stag Lane, N.W.9 continued to make good
progress and it is anticipated that the building will be completed in June 1968, the scheduled date.
In October 1967, the Council approved incorporation of another 50 bedded home with a high proportion
of single rooms within the Neighbourhood Centre Scheme at the junction of Harlesden Road and
Longstone Avenue. At the end of the year sketch plans were being prepared by the Borough Architect. The
estimated cost of the scheme including furniture and fees is £134,412.
At the end of the year loan sanction was received from the Ministry of Housing and Local Government
for the installation of central heating at 5/9 Freeland Road, at a cost of £15,195 and at Wren Park.
Whyteleafe, at a cost of £7,313.