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Haven for homeless
• NOT everyone at Arlington House in Camden Town is a down-and-out or an alcoholic (Plight of the lonely, February 15).
Only a small percentage are Irish. Many are itinerant workers from all over the British Isles who need safe, cheap lodgings so they can send more money to families outside London. This is why philanthropist Lord Rowton founded Arlington House in the first place. It was known as “the great mother” and I believe it still is by those who find shelter there.
However, the greater number of men there now are homeless. Unable to work for whatever reason, they soon find themselves on the streets sleeping rough. All too many have a history of mental illness and were discharged to “care in the community” when the asylums closed. Others have suffered physical trauma and are unemployable. Marriage breakdown accounts for another group. Some were evicted for rent arrears and council tax debts.
A large proportion have served in the army and the merchant navy where everything was handed to them, and have been unable to cope with life in civvy street. Quite a few are old lags and their families have disowned them. All of them never made any lasting relationships, isolated from family and friends.
Alcohol lured all too many into its deadly embrace from which escape was impossible because it anaesthetised them from the reality of their plight.
Dedicated staff look after the welfare of the men in Arlington House, from social workers to cleaners. We are in some measure indebted to Camden Council for this level of care.
This is these men’s home. It is private and secure and cannot be invaded by just anyone. The clergy at Our Lady of Hal RC Church care for the spiritual needs of the Roman Catholics and are a great source of comfort to all who come into their orbit, regardless of their religion.
As for the Irish, they have the choice of being relocated to Ireland if they so desire. A model village in Co Mayo was specially built by a young Irish philanthropist to house and care for those who return. However, all too many do not wish to go back, preferring to remain in London where they are anonymous. All they have is their pride and they do not, or cannot, face being seen as failures by their families.
All too many are believed by their families to be long dead.
I was an accredited visitor to Arlington House for many years until my health and my mobility failed me a few years ago. I have first-hand knowledge of Arlington and the men there.
I traced and reunited many with their lost loved ones. Several of the deceased were taken back for burial in the family plot in Ireland and families were able to reach closure at last.
DORIS DALY
Thornhill Road, N1
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