Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-13
WORK OF LOCAL CHARITIES
REPORT OF ASSOCIATION COW
ERING FIFTEEN MONTHS.
Increase in the Number of Cases Of
Destitution Considered-AN cunt
Collected

One out of every sixteen people in the
District Of Columbia affected BY the work
OF the Associated Charities during the
past fifteen months is the most striking
Iact IN the annual report of the associa-
ton, issued today. Altogether, $780, in
Guiding 2OS61 individuals, or $40 per
cert of the entire 500 900 inhabitants of
the District. required attention from the
agents of the Associated Charities during
the past fifteen months. Only 1 .S4 fam
lilies. or less than one-fifth of all the cases
dealt with. required material relief The
others were aided with employment. med
ical treatment. legal aid. correctional in
fluences, friendly counsel and personal
service which enabled them to do with
out aims. The fact is reported that while
the number of cases dealt with by the AS
ISOLATED Charities has increased from
lab In 1899 to 5,406 in 1907. the number
given material relief has decreased from
l.SiS in 1909 to l.2S4 in 1907.
This indicates" says the report, that
the agents have been thorough in their
study Of cases. careful in the administra-
ton of material aid, and resourceful in
developing substitutes for aims, in pre-
venting unnecessary dependence and pro-
noting self help. IT Is safe to say also
that no applicant who could and should
have been relieved has been refused
Amount Collected From the Poor.
One reason why SO little material aid is
made to suffice for the general relief
work of Washington is found in the lact
that small savings to the aggregate
amount of more than $4,000 were COL
lected in the past fifteen months to be
held subject to the needs of the depositors.
The stamp savings system a.; used for
IllS DurDOSe. and : Ihl
licited for savings.
In the collection of these savings 9J12
visits were made by agents and 52,91O
visits by volunteer collectors. In addt-
tion. in the regular fundamental work
OF studying and befriendirg nee~y fami-
lies. 1J.O22 visits were made by the
trained division agents and JOB " volun-
teers WORKING under their direction. Be-
sources GIL visits were made by the
eight agents and As by their unpaid help
ers. Altogether. the large total of 1S,726
personal visits is recorded. The report
says: There are hundreds of alleys, hoy
els and needy families where these 1925
visits represent the one and only con-
nectioh between the higher life of the
community and the homes which stand in
greatest need of uplift.'
The Unpaid Workers.
An important feature of the work is
the enlistinS. training and direction Of
volunteers who give an hour or two week
ly or fortnightly in some appropriate form
OF service. During the past fifteen months
III volunteers served as members of the
eight division conferences which plan
the treatment to be given in the most
dlmcult cases coming TO the association.
There We're 81 volunteers who made
weekly rounds for the collection of small
savings. lightweight served as friendly
visitors. each working for the upbuilding
OF one or two distressed families In con-
quoting summer outings and in other
forms OF volunteer service. 11S volunteers
We're active. This makes total of IA or,
excluding duplicates. 407 individual help
ers. Besides these the volunteers at work
as members and helpers of the three aux
Hilary committees on prevention Of con-
sumption. Improvement Of housing condi-
tons and on summer outings number 300.
OF, excluding duplicates, 219. This macs
a grand total of III unpaid workers, or,
excluding duplicates. 676.
Widows and Deserted Wives.
That the ASS ociated Charities is not as
sisting able-bodied people who are capa-
BILE of caring for themselves is indicated in
many ways. For one thing. there were
1.6I1 families among the o,9O6 cases dealt
with in which the burden of support fell
entirely upon a widowed or deserted wife
Altogether. 4:;9 deserted wives and 23S
widows were aided. The law dealing with
wife desertion and non-support was in
voked vigorously. and good many men
were comp elled to do their duty toward
their families. In the SO4 cases carefully
analyzed to determine causes of distress,
sickness and death were responsible for
,i3 per cent, ignorance and weakness for
10 per cent. desertion and non-support for
IL per cent, intemperance, H per cent.
and old age. moral defect lack of proper
employment and evil surroundings were
responsible for 10 per cent, other causes
for per cent.
Employment and Preventive Work.
Temporary or permanent work was OBJ
tanned in 1884 Instances during the year.
For 657 families special care for the sick
was enlisted. Correctional or legal aid
was administered to 534 families: sixty
three individuals were provided with
transportation to assured care in other
communities. For free treatment at eight
of the leading medical dspensares 2.235
applications were received. Special holi
day benevolences were recommended or
ings work included the careful selection
of 7s7 children and mothers for Camp
Good Will. 129 for Camp Pleasant. 5,O61
for special excursions and day outings.
and the distribution of $3.50 street car
tickets for free trolley rides during the
past fifteen months.
Five Charities Reported.
The annual report includes this year
detailed review of the work OF the Git
zens' Relief Association. the golden book
funds. the committee on prevention of
consumption. the summer outings COM
mittee. and the committee on improve
ment Of housing conditions. The receipts
and expenditures Of each of these funds
is given in detail. together with statistics
Of the work accomplished and clear ex-
PLANTATION Of methods and results. Alto
gether the: report is valuable handbook
showing conditions and needs in the Ma
tionai capital and Offering suggestions
spirited citizen who is interested IN the
relief and unhuildine of his needy neigh