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21
WELFARE SERVICES
TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION
At the beginning of the year, short stay accommodation was provided for 56 families in four hostels
(91, Dartmouth Road, "Rosmoyne", Harrow Road, 54, Winchester Avenue, and 9/11, Nicoll Road), in eleven
houses purchased by the Council in advance of requirements in Redevelopment Areas, and in three houses
loaned by the Ministry of Transport which were purchased by the Ministry for eventual demolition in connection
with the Neasden Underpass Scheme. In addition, emergency accommodation with its own cooking and
personal cleansing facilities was provided for 15 persons at 91, Dartmouth Road.
A domestic science leader from the London Council of Social Service ran a home making group one
day per week at the hostel in Dartmouth Road. During the year, the group had an average attendance of
seven mothers who were given instruction in sewing, cooking, household budgeting, etc. In addition, a playgroup
leader from the Save the Children Fund attended the hostel five mornings a week. The sessions are of
great benefit to the children and mothers, who are given guidance on methods of play and the caring of their
children.
After considerable delay, due to the vendor's difficulty in obtaining alternative accommodation, the
purchase of 13, Nicoll Road was finally completed on 3rd September. The property will be adapted to
accommodate five families and it is estimated that repairs and adaptions will cost £3,000.
On 17th January, 1969, the Home Office agreed to the expenditure of £80,000 under Phase I of
the Urban Development Programme for the purchase and adaptation of houses for homeless families. Four
properties were appropriated from other Committees viz. 81 and 95, Hartland Road, N.W.6 from Education,
240, Willesden Lane, N.W.6 from Housing, and 61 Lancelot Road, Wembley, from Planning, and at the end
of the year negotiations were in progress for the purchase of 60, Brondesbury Villas, N.W.6 and "Braemar
House", 169, Ealing Road, Wembley. In addition, four further houses purchased in advance of requirements
in Redevelopment Areas were handed over to the Department during the year, and 13 further houses were
loaned by the Ministry of Transport.
On 1st January, 1968, 56 families (comprising 30 men, 56 women and 170 children) were in temporary
and emergency accommodation. During the year, 80 families were admitted and 38 discharged, leaving
98 families (55 men. 98 women and 299 children) in residence at the end of the year. Of the families discharged,
16 were re-housed by the Council, two were re-housed by other local authorities, and 20 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. Illegal and legal evictions increased, 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.
RESIDENTIAL ACCOMMODATION

During the year, 121 women and 40 men were admitted to the Council's homes on a permanent
basis, and on 31st December, 1969, 89 women and 26 men 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 four for men were
retained in three of the Wembley Homes. Twenty-seven men and 62 women were accommodated under the
scheme, the average stay being 19 days.
The conversion of the coke fired boilers at "Kingsbury Manor" to oil firing was completed in
January at a cost of £859, and a similar conversion at "Mardale" was completed during November at a cost
of £1,800.
The building of a 50 bed home within the Neighbourhood Centre Scheme at the junction of Harlesden
Road and Longstone Avenue was delayed owing to difficulties experienced by the lowest tenderer. The
Council decided to invite new tenders for the whole Scheme and eventually work commenced on the 18th
August, 1969, and is due for completion in June, 1971. It is estimated that the building and fees will amount
to £115,200 and furniture to £10,500.