Homeless Persons Requirements

[Ric.ror]

We have a homeless man outside our office and its raining very heavily - we have given him a cuppa and some biscuits - what else can we give him - sensible answers only please
(I cannot re-home myself)

[viv41]

Nip to a nearby charity shop, if there is one, and buy him a cheap warm coat ?

[hc4361]

Socks, wet feet are the worse.

[janbee]

I have several in my area. When I see them in the mornings , I take them all into a local cafe and make sure they all get a good breakfast with lots of teas, toast, bread, butter, fry ups... whatever they want. All are ex service men and I have the utmost respect for them all. We treat immigrants much better than our own homeless who have given so much for us. I never ever ever give them money. I feel that is just so degrading to these fine men. I know of any empty lock up garage in the area with a broken latch and they can shelter there at nights. In the meantime, it's a disgrace that they are on the streets and in doorways.

[janbee]

I also give them scarves and gloves which I buy at local charity shops.

[hc4361]

Why are ex service men homeless?

[viv41]

Good for you janbee.

[RandyMarsh]

cheap tent?, sleeping bag?

[viv41]

Agree, warm socks are a good thing too.

[gness]

Good on you, Ric.....I'd go for one of those big waterproof ponchos.....not that any of us should have to be doing this for folk.....sad state of affairs...x

[Ric.ror]

I was going to ask my sons if they had a coat for him - and they would have but it would be designer so that would be no good for him

[woofgang]

ask him?

[Ric.ror]

Don't you think he would just ask for money?

[Gavmacp]

Or alcohol!

[mushroom25]

i'm very wary of offering direct help to anyone.

i once bought a homeless man a sandwich. he looked at it, threw it on the ground, stamped on it and shouted at me "I'm a ***ing vegan! what *** good is that to me, you ****...."

[hc4361]

It's a shame public swimming pools no longer have public baths or showers - I'm sure a hot bath would be very welcome.

[Old_Geezer]

Unsure. Direction to Shelter or the Sally Army perhaps ?

They need a way to permanently change their situation and the will/courage to do so; more than temporary relief to encourage them to stay as they are in such a miserable situation, and ask again on a regular basis.

[Maydup]

There's no need to be out in the rain mid morning. There are plenty of public buildings to shelter in. He is more likely to be begging and shoul instead be directed to a charitabke organisation who can help he move on from that. Discourage.

[gness]

I think we need to appreciate the mental state this man may just be in..... When you hit rock bottom it can be difficult to do anything other than sit and stare.....wherever you are....
Doing anything to help yourself can seem impossible, sadly.....x

[viv41]

mushroom, that was awful. At least you tried.

[ukanonymous]

If he is going to be there a while/ keep comming back you could buy him a Life Straw http://lifestraw.com/
Then he will be able to drink puddles. It sounds daft but it isnt really as where else would you get water from sometimes.
I have a few of these and I did drink a puddle once to prove it to a friend. I couldn't finish the whole puddle but I nearly got there.