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26
WELFARE SERVICES
TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION
At the beginning of the year, three hostels (91, Dartmouth Road, 'Rosmoyne', Harrow Road, and
9/11, Nicoll Road), three houses purchased by the Council in advance of requirements in Redevelopment
Areas, and one house rented from the Ministry of Transport purchased for eventual demolition in connection
with the Neasden Underpass Scheme, provided short stay accommodation for 35 families. In addition, emergency
accommodation with its own cooking and personal cleansing facilities was provided for 15 persons at
91, Dartmouth Road.
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, cooking, household budgeting, etc. In addition, a
play-group leader from the Save the Children Fund attended the hostel five 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.
On 16th April, the conversion of 54, Winchester Avenue, N.W.6, into six units of accommodation was
completed. The property was owned by the Council and was previously the office of the Public Health Department
of the former Willesden Borough Council. It is anticipated that the final cost of conversion will be about
£15,500. In addition, seven further houses in Redevelopment Areas were handed over to the Department during
the year and provided accommodation for 12 families. The purchase of 13, Nicoll Road was still not completed
because of various difficulties, but it is hoped that these will be overcome early in 1970.
On 1st January, 1968, 37 families (comprising 23 men, 37 women and 96 children) were in temporary
and emergency accommodation. During the year, 74 families were admitted and 59 discharged, leaving 56
families (30 men, 56 women and 170 children) in residence at the end of the year. Of the families discharged,
14 were re-housed by the Council, 3 were re-housed by other local authorities, and 42 found their own accommodation.
Several voluntary organisations provided accommodation including Ladyholme Company Ltd.,
Provident Row Night Refuge and Home, Ambridge House Foundation, and the Salvation Army.
Despite an increase in the accommodation provided and also the fact that more families have been
re-housed by the Council, the problem continues to grow. There has been an increase in illegal evictions as
well as legal evictions, and although some landlords have been prosecuted and fined for illegally evicting
families, they have not been obliged to take them back and the families remain homeless. It has also become
more difficult for families to find private unfurnished accommodation for themselves as the extra security given
to tenants in unfurnished property has encouraged landlords to stop letting this type of accommodation.
During the year a Social Worker was appointed to work with families in the Council's care.
RESIDENTIAL ACCOMMODATION

The building of a 50 bed residential home on Stag Lane, N.W.9, which the Council decided to call
"Roberts Court", was completed on 30th August, 1968. The first residents were admitted on 23rd October,
1968, and full occupation was reached on 10th December. It is anticipated that the final cost of the building
will be £107,590 plus £11,100 for furniture.
During the year, 140 women and 55 men were admitted to the Council's homes, and on 31st December,
1968, 21 men and 55 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 a further 220 residents in voluntary and other local authority homes.
The short stay scheme, which enables relatives or friends to have a holiday and an elderly person a
change of routine, continued to operate throughout the year. Six beds for women and 4 for men were retained
in 3 of the Wembley Homes. Thirty men and 66 women were accommodated under the scheme, the average
stay being 19 days.
The installation of central heating at "Wren Park" was completed on 2nd May, 1968, at a cost of
£7,480, and at 5/9, Freeland Road in December at a cost of £15,195.
The incorporation of a 50 bed home within the Neighbourhood Centre Scheme at the junction of
Harlesden Road and Longstone Avenue made good progress. Tenders for the Scheme were invited at the end
of October and the apportionment of costs was considered by the various Committees concerned in the project
in December. Application for loan sanction was made to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government in
January 1969. It is estimated that the building and fees will amount to £122,332 and furniture will cost £10,500.