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22
Further points in respect of overcrowding, cleanliness and state
of rent book, were awarded after visitation by officials of the Public
Health Department.
Estimation of degree of overcrowding was the most difficult
task. This was determined not only on the number of persons per
room, but also by the general living conditions, such as washing
facilities, cooking and sanitary arrangements, as well as physical
disability, illness, and psychological disturbances. The unenviable
task of the officials who visited the houses of applicants, was to
select cases for interview by the Committee for final investigation
and choice of tenants.
Over 1,000 visits were made, and the number appearing for
interview was 322, of which 307 were ultimately selected. A
further 61 cases were submitted without interview, and not approved.
Of evacuee residents temporarily residing outside the Borough,
34, or 11 per cent of the total, were included in the 307 successful
applicants. These were not visited, but selected after consideration
of their initial points score, together with a report on overcrowding
from the Medical Officer of Health of the district in which they were
temporarily residing.
The number of selected families with a case of tuberculosis in
the home was 29. The only applicant without a child who was
allocated a house had tuberculosis and was in a sanatorium at the
time of the visit. There were 12 persons in this house, living
under conditions of severe overcrowding. The number of successful
applicants where the wife was pregnant totalled 72, and 11 of these
were given priority as there were no facilities at home for the confinement
and no prospect of securing a maternity bed in hospital.
Many applicants had great difficulty in maintaining a
satisfactory standard of cleanliness. One water tap was often shared
by 3 families, and considerable hardship was caused by having to
carry buckets of water up flights of stairs. In most cases there were
no bathing facilities, nor adequate sanitary arrangements.
Conditions of overcrowding were severe. In 60 instances,
kitchens were being used for sleeping purposes, with the floor often
serving as a bed, and in many instances the family were separated
because of lack of accommodation.
The following examples of overcrowded cases allocated houses,
will indicate the seriousness of the housing shortage in this Borough.