SHELTER TO HOMELESS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20288, 22 June 1929, Page 2 (Supplement)

SHELTER TO HOMELESS.

< CONDITIONS IN LONDON.

DECREASE IN- OUTCASTS.

A. REMARKABLE . CHANGE.

Only 31 homeless people were counted ©ilo night this year in London*. ' Thirty

years ago there were .thousands. In the days of the grandfathers of the present generation ona of tho worst sides of London was tho largo number of homeless boys'and crippled beggars seen in tho streets. Ragged street, arabs ran begging after the old horse omnibuses. Homeless lads made their headquarters in tho Adelphi Arches, or slept under market waggons in Cevent Garden. There they often found others willing to train them in crime. To-day any lad found homeless, in the streets of London says a recent writer, is taken in charge by the first policeman who sees him. The policeman asks where he comes from and what he is going to do. If he has no home, a home is found for him. But in spite of all that has been done there are still to bo found in tho streets of West Central London about 30

people, night after night who have no homes. Men who have met with misfortune and are not' regular idlers' are allowed to sleep in the crypt of St. Martin's, and others are sometimes found in a tunnel below .Charing Cross Station. Thoy are not interfered with there. This long passage from Villiers Street to Buckingham Street has become the recognised home of tho homeless in London.

Among these people are old women wearing several torn dresses one over the other. They carry weird-looking bundles. Ono of them will sell old bits of leather from the uppers of boots to men who cut them out into bootlaces. One finds bottles or jars that bring her in a copper or two. There is a man who has a little old can and a bundle of food which he has begged during tho day. Another has gathered up some newspapers which ho carefully places on the ground and against the wall to keep him warm while he tries to sleep. There are beggars up from the country who find Loudon warmer in winter time.

Night, after night workers from charities visit these miserable people, trying to find out any who can be helped. Somo times the sleepers turn on their visitor, for somo of these people do not want their lives changed. They have lost the will to raise themselves. They hope to

got money for nothing from strangers who pass by and pity them.

Happily there is always somebody at hand from the Church Army or the Salvation Army to help those who will respond to help, At the beginning of tho century an average of 2000 homeless people slept in the London streets on winter nights. Last February only 31 wore counted. It is a wonderful change in less than a generation. Charitable people have built homes and shelters for tho outcasts, and there are a hundred schemes for helping them. The writer adds" Surely the spirit of Christianity grows stronger every year in our national life. The man who prays on his knees on Sunday and preys on his neighbour on Monday is dying. Tlje man who feels that Christianity is service is increasing everywhere. One day he will bring in the millennium. Meanwhile, he pulls down slums, makes playing-fields, ; and gives shelter to the homeless."