The Editor Newham Voices,

Dear Sir,

I refer to your article in the second addition of your paper relating to Ajitha Sajeev who recently received a BEM medal for her long service in housing for Newham council and the work she has been involved with in helping people into safer accommodation. Much of the ground work that helps the council deliver on its commitments to its residents is done by officers, Ajitha is one of those officers.

As a councillor in Newham, I first meet Ajitha in a housing committee meeting twenty two years ago. In those days there were regular meetings between the council and what was known as residents housing committees. I was very impressed with the way she conducted the meeting and the empathy shown to its members.

Her most recent assignment was working with rough sleepers. Newham had one the highest numbers of rough sleepers in London and the numbers keep growing. The most visible evidence of this was around Stratford, with the Mall providing adequate shelter. There were other places such as car parks, doorways, alleyways and back streets. I became a huge problem for the borough where there were many complaints from residents.

With funding provided by central government it became the responsibility of the local authority to eradicate this problem. The task was given to Ajitha to deal with. It meant putting together a team of officers and mainly volunteers including councillors. These would form groups that would work through given nights visiting the areas where the rough sleepers were more likely to be found. Among each group there would be a qualified social worker who would take their details and return them to Ajitha. Using the information provided she would then arrange accommodation as required. She and her team have moved 195 people from the streets during this COVID period and moved 40 from shared spaces, some of these were united with their families.

She continues to work with about 37 people but this is remarkable work that she has done. This coupled with the many years working in housing for Newham council, mean that she is worthy recipient of this award,

Winston Vaughan

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