Where Do The Homeless Go?

[anthro-nerd]

I've now done 3 shifts at my local homeless shelter, and out of 14 homeless, only 6 turned up last night. It was a horrible night last night, raining, cold... and we had a homemade cottage pie and warm beds! So, where do they go? Are they actually homeless?

It's left me a little confused!

[hc4361]

Derelict buildings, squats, public loos, different towns.

If your shelter has a no drink/drug policy that would bar a few. Some homeless people just don't like using the shelters - a few have mental health problems that make them shun other people and/or organisations.

One or two may have been arrested and in custody.

[anthro-nerd]

Ah yes, there is a no drink / drugs policy... and apparently they were paid last week so perhaps that answers the question.

[ladybirder]

Do homeless people get paid? I didn't know that. I thought that was why there is so much begging.

[anthro-nerd]

Ladybirder, apparently so... it came as a surprise to me as well. In order to be registered homeless, you have to be in regular contact with the council... and yes they do get paid.

One lad last night settled down to watch a film on his tablet last night....????

[hc4361]

JSA doesn't go far when you are homeless. Many homeless people get no benefits at all, sometimes because they don't know how to claim without an address, sometimes because the benefits employees don't know how to issue benefits without an address, unbelievable as that seems.
Once upon a time the homeless had to sign on daily in return for their daily benefit - on Friday's they got three days of benefits. That stopped long ago and the money is paid in to a simple card account that can only be used for their benefits. There is a problem with that - with access to a week or fortnight's worth of money at a time they become targets for muggings. If they have a drink or drugs problem, all the money is gone within a day or two.

[anthro-nerd]

hc4361 right you are... Well they know where the shelter is if they want a hot meal and a safe place to sleep. There's so much more than needs to be done, but at least for now I feel like I can help.

[hc4361]

Where is the shelter, anthro?

[anthro-nerd]

Spath. I thought most of the homeless had dogs too... but 14 out of the 15 homeless in my town don't... And the other might not too, it's just they have chosen not to engage with the shelter.

Perhaps they 'borrow' a friend's dog to beg with, or many of the people you see who appear homeless ith a dog actually have a home to go to at night, so aren't actually homeless.

[anthro-nerd]

Hi Spath, yep if they want to have benefits and a free place to stay, like this shelter, then they need to register with the council.

It's a safety thing, so it means that when we open our doors we only have people turn up who genuinely need the help... not someone who's had a spat with their partner and wants a free bed, more example.

There's a lot of rules around it, to ensure the safety of the volunteers, which to some I guess would be intimidating. But what is does do is set boundaries and limitations which many homeless might not have had before, and makes it easier for them to then transition into other accommodation for example.

It's quite technical, but I'm happy to help :-)

[Guilbert53]

How many of these so called "homeless" people have actually got homes and are just beggers!

I live in a fairly affluent area and there is a man who sits on the floor outside one of the shops all day. People give him money, food etc.

But the other day I happened to see him using his mobile phone (he was hiding behind a wall trying not to be seen).

I am convinced he is not homeless and is just using the current sympathy for homeless people to beg.

[Eleena]

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/its-6am-homeless-people-leave-14357474

[pastafreak]

Guilbert...while you might be correct in assuming your door way begger has a place to go, do you believe the homeless should not have mobile phones? Many of our clients have them...and they're not iPhones! If I were homeless/ rough sleeping, I'd feel more secure if I had a phone.
anthro...is your shelter the only place offering a bed for the night? Could there be a church or 2 offering accommodation? Or, could the council have come up with a few rooms. As for no drink/drugs...I doubt *any* shelter would not have such a policy.
As for the tablet...you don't know how long that boy has been out on the streets...it may be the remains of his previous life.

[hc4361]

There are shelters that will take in those under the influence of drink or drugs on condition they don’t indulge on the premises or bring any drink or drugs with them. Anyone would have to be desperate to use them and I am full of admiration for those that work in them.

[anthro-nerd]

Spath, to be let into the shelter they have to be registered homeless, but I think different shelters have different rules, as far I'm aware. And unfortunately many people on the street aren't actually homeless... they are just begging. It's a very complex social problem that I'm still learning a lot about!

[steg]

My phone cost me nothing (got it from daughter when she upgraded) I pay £7 a month for my SIM card which gives me enough free calls, texts and internet to last the month. If it was a payg SIM it could be less.
You don’t need much money to own a phone or a tablet

[bednobs]

but where do they get charged?