Homelessness In The Capital

[emmie]

according to the news on now, there are approx 170 thousand people who are deemed to be homeless, either sleeping on the streets, or living in hostels,
B&B's and shelters.
this is a disgrace whichever way you look at it.
what can be done to help those who find themselves in this position.

[pastafreak]

I think all large cities are the same.
When my daughter visited L.A. a few years ago, she said it was much worse there...she's lived in various parts of London for 12 years or so. It brought tears to my eyes to know homelessness was so bad in the country of my birth.

[andres]

There's a big difference in the numbers between the news programme and the number in the link. Who counts them?

[Bobbisox1]

I think PODS have been tried somewhere but not sure where

[emmie]

i didn;t provide the link, i was talking about London.
as that is what i was watching on the BBC London news

[andres]

emmie--I was not getting at you. Just wondering how on earth anyone calculates the numbers of homeless people.

[emmie]

andres, i wasn't having a go, i would think they get the figures from Crises, Shelter, Councils, and various other
outsources...

[pumpjack]

fewer / less or better still " no " immigrants on welfare !!!!

my xwife works before any you ask :)

[pastafreak]

There are probably more homeless immigrants than immigrants on benefits.
Contrary to popular belief, benefits are not just handed out on silver platters.

[emmie]

pasta no they are not....

[Togo]

The "report" appears to have been generated by The Independent. (oxymoron there if ever there was) With "data" gleaned from all the cash hungry "charities" and pressure groups who have, get this, a vested interest in making more and more people homeless. This is to ensure that they have a plausible reason to siphon cash from donations or better still the taxpayer.

[emmie]

togo,, that's a cynical viewpoint.

[Togo]

One man's cynicism is another man's realism. I am a realist. Build the playing field and they will come.

[TonyV]

Re mental health problems, mental health provision is definitely the poor relation in the NHS IMO

[jourdain2]

What can be done to help immediately?
In Japan they have 'pod' hotels. They really are sleeping pods, very small, but secure and warm areas in which to sleep. Unused buildings could be converted to these.

Slightly longer term - containers are being used to provide v. small accommodation (the students somewhere turned their noses up at them recently) which have sleeping, cooking and washing facilities and - most importantly - a stable address from which to apply for help and jobs, then someone can make a start.

Portacabins can be 2-storeyed and provide a decent space for someone (or a couple at a pinch) same thing re. address.

Immediately - well, support your local 'homeless' association like mad. Our carol concert on Friday will send the collection to The Hinge.

[Togo]

//(the students somewhere turned their noses up at them recently) which have sleeping, cooking and washing facilities and - most importantly - a stable address from which to apply for help and jobs,//

In in a position whereby they are identifiable and therefor to some there somewhere lies the answer. Concentrate for instance on the bit that mentions a stable and identifiable address. The vast majority of homeless are not willing to be identifiable or indeed held to account for their own behaviour. Some sections of this "unwilling to be held to account" segment of society have even been given special "traveller" status and are indeed fee of the usual constraints that most of us accept as part of the deal that comes with the benefits of being on the radar of the authorities.

[jourdain2]

^^^ I was thinking about the genuine homeless, Togo, the home-grown sort. There are quite a lot of them, honestly, and the stable address is vital. There are 6 locally have been provided with that and are applying for jobs.

The ones who want to be off the radar will always be off the radar, but we can help the willing.

[Togo]

That is good Jourdain 2......I hope that they are the youngsters and drug free. I do doubt though that there are 170,000 of such in London.

[tamborine]

The 2 men I found have families nearby but because of their drug habit, have chosen to go awol & neglect their families. Technically, theyre not homeless but prefer bench-surfing & begging for drugs.

[Gromit]

Went into Manchester this afternoon, and it is not just the Capital.
Large numbers in doorways and on the streets.
This problem has got a lot worse over the past five years.
There is a lot of construction of luxury flats going up and people are dying in their shadow.
Not acceptable.

[tamborine]

I know someone in Manchester who has just started dealing drugs. She says its more profitable than hairdressing and wont be talked out of dealing....that's not the govs fault.