THE KENSINGTON HOUSING' TRUST • o f [To the .c.ueiGT 0,/
SPECTATOR.]
PECTATOR.] SIR,—With reference to Captain Townroe's excellent article in your last issue, on the Kensington Housing Trust, may I add a word as to the object we had in view in forming the Trust ?
Our special aim is to help those people who cannot afford to pay the rents commonly charged for houses built under the. various Housing Acts. This large class of the respectable working population has hitheito derived no benefit whatever
from the national housing effort, although its plight is really terrible, as conditions—e.g., in Kensington --prove. Ken- sington and the ring of metropolitan boroughs similarly situated are subject to a double pressure ; the rising site values in the City and central areas are forcing the resident population outward, while the lure of possible employment, too often deceptive, keeps drawing people from the country to town. Hence the intolerable pressure upon space in those boroughs with consequent overcrowding and all its attendant evils.
Experience leads us to believe that semi-philanthropic private enterprise is the best means yet devised for fighting those evils, and in this we have the support and encourage- ment of the Minister of Health. Aided by generous gifts of money, and applications for Loan Stock at low rates of interest, the Kensington Housing Trust has made an excellent start. Captain Townroe's article bears witness to the fact that the work of the Trust is being done with extreme efficiency, and consequently with no waste of money. Low rents are our cardinal object, and we are careful to see that the selected tenants are those who are in the greatest need of them. Cap- tain Townroe referred to one of our new flats comprising living room, three bedrooms, scullery, bathroom and lavatory, which is let to a family consisting of man, wife, and seven children, at a rent of 16s. per week. I would like to add that that rent is inclusive of rates.
I venture to appeal to all interested in this work to help by way of a free gift, or- a subscription for Loan Stock. /20,000 is urgently required to enable us to proceed with the imme- diate erection of our main block of new flats. I shall be very glad to answer inquiries from anyone interested, or applica- tions may be made to the Secretary of the Trust, which is registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act, at the office, 138 Portobello Road, W. 11.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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