THE HOMELESS DISAPPEAR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3088, 19 May 1917, Page 8

THE HOMELESS DISAPPEAR

War brings some benefits the Lnrnlon "Daily Mail"). The homeless have practically disappeared from the streets of London. Thcro is so much work to bo had that practically every man or woman can earn enough to keep themselves. Tho County Council recently has again taken its periodical census of tho homeless in the streets. Three years ago 2UG homeless men. and 76 women were found. This year there wero only 19 men and 9 women. Thi6 ia as near tho irreduciblo minimum l as we are likely to get. Three years ago we talked n great deal about the "unemployable.?," the people who had sunk so low that they could not work if they would. The men and women we then thought wastrels .ire now doing tood, honest work in one way or another. Foplar and Canning Town, once the homes of misery, are exceedingly -prosperous.' I know whole districts in South and East London that before fhe war were pitiable. They always had many people out of work, and most of those in work earned very little. To-day these same people have decent homes. Their children are well clad and well 6nod. They have no uneasiness about where Sunday's dinner is coming from. The policeman has less to do, for poverty makes crime. They are closing some of tho workhouses. The great army of secretaries of charitable organisations find most of their calling gone. There is work for all. Years ago one felt the same atmosphere of sufficiency in ern America. Now it is found in East London.