HELP FOR THOSE " DOWN AND OUT "

[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sm,—At a time when unemployment is rife your readers may be glad to hear of a purposeful attempt to help the casualties of world and national industrial depression. As a memorial to the late Rev. G. A. Studdert-Kennedy, the S.O.S. Society bought and equipped a free hostel for unemployed destitute men in December, 1929. Sir Oliver Lodge declared the hostel open, and the Bishop of Kensington blessed the relief work which had been started several months before.

Most of the internal repairs and decorations were done by the few " down-and-out " men in the house during the early days. At the present moment the accommodation provides for twenty-five residents, and the basement Night Shelter for twenty-five men every night. It is most unusual to go

below these numbers. On January 9th the Society extended its scope by taking over Holy Trinity Church, Gray's Inn Road, as a temporary Night Sanctuary for the homeless poor of London. The Bishop of Stepney set aside the church for this purpose after consultation with the Ecclesiastical Commission, the rector and churchwardens. Two hundred and thirty men are admitted at 9 p.m. They are given hot cocoa and bread and jam, and the same when they leave at 6 o'clock in the morning.

A responsible member of the Executive Committee attends each night, and voluntary helpers try to meet pressing needs and provide music.

To sum up : The Church is the lowest rung of the ladder which ascends to re-eMployment.. The Hostel Night Shelter gives a chance to make firmer personal contacts; and finally the highest rung availahle, residence in the hostel gives a man a home and focusses his efforts

on an intensive search for work, backed by all the resources of the Society's organization, and its enthusiagtic. friends. All grades, from labourers to university, graduates and

professional men, have been helped in the hour of their greatest need.

These few cases are typical of the many

(a) Music Hall Comedian.—Had been through the mill of the theatrical profession; but -was ousted by the "talkie invasion." After a second spell in the Hostel, he found a place in. a revue company touring the seaside resorts, and later received a contract for the winter. (b) Mining Engineer.—Over fifty years old. round himself stranded after thirty-five years of mining experience in Africa and elsewhere, owing to the slump in the price of tin. He -is now a car-park attendant.

(c) 40 years old. Came to the Hostel destitute and in rags.

He had been deft some small property in the country, but could obtain no money pending a settlement of affairs. He was kept by the Society for ten months until legal matters were arranged, meanwhile he gave excellent service, first in the kitchen, and then in a responsible position in the Hostel.

The pressure on the Society is very great. It is negotiating for a new hostel in London, and aims at a chain of hostels in localities where they are most needed. The next step after

this will be the establishment of a farm training centre where men may be kept hard and fit in productive work, until they can be reabsorbed on the land. The gift of a suitable country estate or grant of land is a vision perhaps too ambitious, We are happy at all times to give interested visitors a nearer view of our work.—I am, Sir, &c.,

DENIS GRINLING

(Hon. General Secretary).

S.O.S. Society, 61 Mount Pleasant, London, W.C. 1.