Skinflint and Shelter
Sir: The description of myself in Skinflint's City Diary (December 7) as a 'bumbling, mild-mannered Quaker' is infinitely preferable to that of being hard-faced, ruthless and dictatorial, but really the author of the article cannot have it both ways: in it I am accused of refusing to accept professional advice and he then goes on to say that the basis of the action relating to Erin Pizzey's book was simply ill-conceived pique on my part.
The decision taken jointly by SHELTER and SHAC to issue a writ against Penguins and Mrs Pizzey was based solely on professional advice after receiving Counsel's opinion (who is an expert on defamation matters) on the damage that would be done to both organisations and the professional credibility of the case-workers involved if the passage which we considered libellous was allowed to go unchallenged. SHELTER has not sued any charity and all we are trying to achieve is to undo the damage done by Mrs Pizzey personally to both our organisations.
Since I became Director in January, SHELTER has not simply produced a report on Tied Accommodation or organised a series of 'phone-in programmes on LBC, we have produced two major reports with a third on Bed and Breakfast Accommodation being published this week, completely restructured the organisation, arranged a series of top level meetings with Tony Crosland, Margaret Thatcher and Edward Heath, run a successful campaign on the Rent Act and produced a major paper on homelessness tor the recent Association of District Councils Annual Conference and distributed £395,324 to projects throughout the UK, thus enabling many essential pieces of work to continue in existence.
On top of this, our regional staff, all professionals, have been involved in many local campaigns and have offered practical help and assistance to hundreds of families who are literally homeless.
In the first eighteen weeks of the current financial year we have actually increased our income on last year's figures at a time when most other charities are suffering considerable decline. This, linked with cuts in administration expenditure and rigid constraints on staff expenses, is not without significance. In addition, a number of senior staff have joined the organisation and added considerably to the professional quality of our work.
In conclusion, may I say that I would personally welcome the suggestion of the Charity Commissioners sending in management consultants.
My own personal commitment to the work of SHELTER is not simply based on academic theory, but relates to living for over ten years in a house in multi-occupation with three families sharing one bathroom.
I remain, I hope, mild-mannered but not anonymous. Douglas Tilbe Director, SHELTER, 86 Strand, London WC2.
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