MEN'S SHELTER

Evening Star, Issue 19444, 30 December 1926, Page 6

MEN'S SHELTER

SUPPLYING A WANT Though there ie not a great deal of acute distress among men in Dunedin at the present time, there are always numbers of men who, down on their luck, perhaps only temporarily require some sort of assistance, and it is this class of men that the men’s shelter in Maclaggan street, which is controlled by the Salvation Army, aims at helping. The quarters now occupied by the shelter were at one time used as a warehouse, and tho rooms provided are roomy and clean. Beds may ho obtained for 9d, Is, and Is 6d, and breakfast and tea can also be procured at a cost of 3d, 6d, or 9d. For the modest sura of 3d a man may obtain two slices of bread and butter and a cup of tea, for 6d he may breakfast on porridge, bread and butter, and meat. For tea fid will provide him with soup, vegetables, and meat, and a further expenditure of 3d will give him an additional course of sweets.

Some interesting figures in connection with the shelter were given to a ‘ Star ’ reporter to-day by Captain Anderson, who is in chagre. Since the building opened in October an average, of thirty-two beds has been occupied nightly. During tho first month of its existence 410 beds were supplied, 42 were given free, 596 meals were supplied and 50 provided free. In November 664 beds were supplied, 72 were given free, 807 meals were provided, and 78 given free. During the present month 807 beds have been supplied, 67 being given free; 831 meals have been provided, and 61 given free. The men wlio have been accommodated at the shelter contain a fair sprinkling of elderly as well as young men. Several immigrants have been assisted, one of whom had boon a Government nominee to the dominion. The Army authorities do all in their power to place in work those men who call at the shelter for accommodation, the majority being men w T ho are temporarily out of work, and wdio, after spending a few days at the shelter, hie themselves off to the country in search of work.

The institution does not aim at providing regular accommodation, the object being to help those who are temporarily in distress. There are a few men who have been at the shelter since it opened—some in work, some unable to find work, and a few who will not work. When the institution gets better known it is hoped to open all day long and to supply dinners for working men, but in the meantime the premises are closed between 8.30 a.m. and 5 p.m- If the shelter were kept open all day at present, there would be the tendency on the part of a certain class of men to stay there all day and never go out looking for work. The Salvation Army Shelter is providing a much-needed want in the city, and in times of winter distress the accommodation provided now will probably have to be considerably added to.