The 1888 Jack the Ripper murders, exposed the horrific social conditions in the area where the atrocities occurred, and laid bare the plight of the many homeless women in the district.
However, many philanthropic endeavours were being undertaken in the East End, to try and alleviate the suffering of the poor, and get them back on the straight and narrow.
Amongst these was the Salvation Army Shelter on Hanbury Street.
On Saturday the 10th of August, 1912, The Social Gazette published the following article about the shelter:-
HALLS OF HOPE
WHERE STRANDED WOMEN AND RUNAWAY GIRLS
FIND REFUGE FROM THE CRUEL STREETS
Among the many ‘boons and blessings’ which The Salvation Army has been able to bestow upon London’s poor, by means of its Social operations, ranks the Women’s Shelter where, for a small charge, 250 of London’s homeless women are housed every night.
INSIDE THE SHELTER
Ensign Fife is the Officer in charge of this Shelter, and is assisted by a competent staff of Officers and workers the latter, numbering thirty, being selected from among the women themselves as arises.
The front portion of the building is devoted to the use of the Officers and Workers, while four spacious halls on the ground floor, lit by electricity, are for the women, three as domitories, and the fourth – the day-room – as a centre where the women gather to converse, mend their clothing, or take their meals.
In this hall, too, bright half-hourly Meetings are conducted every evening.
STORIES OF THE WOMEN
But the actual Shelter work is not all that is done at Hanbury Street.
What stories the Warden can unfold.
Stories of runaway wives who have been reconciled to their husbands and returned to their homes.
Stories of the restoration of homes which have been broken up through lack of employment; and stories of wanderers who have come to London in the hope of gaining a better livelihood, but who have met with reverses and have become disappointed and discouraged, and who but for the timely help afforded them might have sunk to the lowest depths of sin and misery.
A PROFESSIONAL SINGER’S PLIGHT
One of the latter class was a respectable Scotch widow who had come to the capital with her daughter—a professional singerwho desired to secure an engagement on the operatic stage.
They tramped from one agent to another, but without success, and, at length, coming to the end of their resources, were stranded in London, without friends and without money.
At last, they both procured employment in the same firm, and it seemed as though brighter days had dawned for them.
The mother, however, became seriously ill and was compelled to go into the infirmary, where she stayed three months, and at the end of the season, among the last comers who were ‘sacked,’ was this young woman; thus again they were without support.
After leaving the infirmary, the mother came to The Army Shelter, and in her trying circumstances sought to stifle her feelings by secret drinking.
At length, her story was confided to the Warden, and, to their unspeakable joy, arrangements were made for the return of both mother and daughter to Scotland, where they were cared for until they were able to look after themselves.
THE SHELTER INMATES
All sorts of women gather at Hanbury Street – there you may see the Old-Age Pensioner, the middle-aged woman, and even the young woman; but they are all wome who have found the battle of life to be hard.
Those who come to the Shelter regularly are allowed to retain the use of the same bed, and so great is the demand that sometimes the accommodation is quite inadequate to cope with it.
But when such is the case, the Warden does her utmost for the applicants by advising them as to the best place to find lodging.
The women are chiefly employed by Jewish families, doing washing and cleaning for a mere pittance, and are in especially great demand in this connexion at feast times; others find employment at Covent Garden; others, again, do tailoring or odd jobs.
PROMOTING HAPPINESS AND CLEALINESS
In the Shelter itself everything possible is done to promote the happiness of the inmates who are encouraged to be cleanly in their habits and orderly in their behaviour.
Every day the dormitories and day-room are scrubbed out, and it is no exaggeration to say that the boards are as white as snow.
Hot water is also provided daily for the use of the women.
POLICEMEN AND THE HOMELESS
The local policemen are well known to the Warden at Hanbury Street, for many times they have directed unfortunate individuals to the Shelter.
A RESCUED WOMAN
A woman was recently brought there in this way.
She was quite destitute, and remained for some time, but, at length, her relatives sought her out and she was returned to her home.
She has since written to the Warden expressing her gratitude for all that was done for her at the Shelter.
MOTHER AND CHILDREN
Another case, was that of a young woman, who, with her mother and three little children, came to London from a provincial town.
They were brought to the Shelter at midnight.
The young woman’s husband had gone abroad and for some time she had had no news of him, and in her anxiety she resolved to leave her home and come to a relative in London in the hope of gaining some information as to his whereabouts.
But, in the crush at the railway station, her bag, containing her purse, had been cut from her arm, and she was unable to procure lodgings for the night or proceed to her destination, and there was apparently nothing for them to do but wander about the unfriendly streets.
RESCUED BY THE SHELTER
The Warden took them in – the children crying, the women ill and weary – and provided them with a hot meal, and the next day got into communication with their friends.
They stayed at the Shelter for a few days when a letter reached them – it had been sent to their home in the country and had been re-addressed to their relatives in London – announcing that a home was awaiting them in Tasmania, and when the Warden last heard from them they were expecting to embark immediately.
PRISONERS AND RUNAWAYS
Sometimes women who have been in prison are received at the Shelter, where they are encouraged to remain as workers, if suitable, or, if they prefer it, the Warden helps them to secure work outside, thus enouraging them to gain an honest living.
Then there are the runaways.
Two girls came together to the Shelter, one sixteen years of age, the other seventeen.
It transpired that they had run away from home, and they were retained until their parents came for them.
MANY-SIDED ACTIVITIES
One might go on to enumerate stories of similar work done at this important branch of the Women’s Social operations, but sufficient has been said to show its many sided activities, and the very real place it fills in distressed and desolate lives.