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The Homeless At Christmas
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As Christmas approaches people's thoughts turn to the homeless. Is it a problems that could be solved to ensure that everyone, whatever their circumstances can have access to shelter, warmth, food and clothing so that homelessness is a thing of the past? Is it practical or even fair to those who work to achieve these basic necessities? What are your thoughts?
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that some are intentionally homeless, though i suspect they are in the minority. Shelters open up over Christmas, a restaurant recently gave a free meal to about 50 homeless people, which was kind, and Crisis, Shelter are usually open for business all year round, its whether some want to take the opportunity of staying in a hostel, some don't.
I don't know what the answer is to homelessness.
I don't know what the answer is to homelessness.
Massive problem could be easily solved. There are so many derelict houses and churches around the UK.
There is almost enough for the homeless to have one location each.
No, its not fair for those who work.. But i mean, i'd rather work and get what i have than the bare minimum.. It's not like they're given brand new levis jeans etc.. It's usually second hand donations.
The real issue is food.
There is almost enough for the homeless to have one location each.
No, its not fair for those who work.. But i mean, i'd rather work and get what i have than the bare minimum.. It's not like they're given brand new levis jeans etc.. It's usually second hand donations.
The real issue is food.
It always has and always will be a problem for some. Some blame lies at the feet of those who sleep rough or sit out all day with their dog when they don't need to - if the public were 100% sure those huddled in a doorway had nowhere better to go then sympathy and charity would expand. I can't be the only one who steps past them in my local town and is totally suspicions of what their real circumstances are.
My thoughts don't turn to the homeless at Christmas, its a 365 days of the year problem. Yes, in this day and age everyone should have access to shelter food and clothing, but the reasons for homelessness are complex and some people actually want to live nomadic lives. I'm not sure if you are asking if its fair to give homeless people shelter if they have not worked for it? Sorry I don't agree with that at all. I would gladly give £1 a week out of my earnings if I thought it was going into a fund to build subsidized accommodation for the homeless. Being homeless could happen to anyone and its societies duty to help those in REAL need.
In theory number wise of course it could be solved, but the needs of the homeless are sometimes very complex. Many homeless people have mental health issues which makes it hard for them to cohabit with other people or remain static and feel safe, so assessment would be really problematic. Some people don't want to be house and are homeless as par of their free identity. some have dogs and could be house if they gave the up but rightly refuse to do so. It's not as simple as finding everyone a room unfortunately, and the will to accomodate people who do not fit neatly into boxes society gives them is often not there, it would take a radical rethink about the way we combat homelesses, mental health, the befits system etc to make it a reality and sorry to say most people don't want to make that level of committment in society to people they see on their perifiery.
In my experience the real problem for the homeless is not food, the homeless know where they can go for a free meal, every day. Most do a regular circuit so they get at least one hot meal, usually more.
Access to clean clothes, showers and warmth and shelter prove much more difficult.
There will always be homeless people, some people prefer to live 'off grid' and cannot conform to a conventional lifestyle for many reasons.
It would be nice if everyone who wants a permanent bed in a warm and safe environment could have such a place and use it as a springboard to their own home but I doubt it is possible.
Families are living in one room in hotels for many months which is totally unacceptable. No privacy, no cooking facilities, no storage space, no laundry facilities. Food becomes hugely expensive when you have to buy nearly everything ready to eat and keeping the kids in clean clothes cost a lot of money when you have nowhere to hang wet washing and only have a tiny sink. These are the people that should get priority to a home. I realise that a minority of these families are 'problem families', 'neighbours from hell' that have been evicted for bad behaviour and the parents will not recognise they are problematic. I don't know what can be done in these situations.
Hostels and shelters have to set rules, usually no drugs and no drunks for the safety and well being of staff, volunteers and clients. Those that are unwilling or unable to comply are left to their own devices. I don't know what the answer is for those people, either.
Access to clean clothes, showers and warmth and shelter prove much more difficult.
There will always be homeless people, some people prefer to live 'off grid' and cannot conform to a conventional lifestyle for many reasons.
It would be nice if everyone who wants a permanent bed in a warm and safe environment could have such a place and use it as a springboard to their own home but I doubt it is possible.
Families are living in one room in hotels for many months which is totally unacceptable. No privacy, no cooking facilities, no storage space, no laundry facilities. Food becomes hugely expensive when you have to buy nearly everything ready to eat and keeping the kids in clean clothes cost a lot of money when you have nowhere to hang wet washing and only have a tiny sink. These are the people that should get priority to a home. I realise that a minority of these families are 'problem families', 'neighbours from hell' that have been evicted for bad behaviour and the parents will not recognise they are problematic. I don't know what can be done in these situations.
Hostels and shelters have to set rules, usually no drugs and no drunks for the safety and well being of staff, volunteers and clients. Those that are unwilling or unable to comply are left to their own devices. I don't know what the answer is for those people, either.
We could have 'Homeless Advisory Centres ' where they could go to for help and advice. Based in towns where there are lots of homeless people. Volunteers could go round the streets to make sure that they were aware of these centres. That way it might sort out the genuine homeless needing help from the law breaking beggars.
I should hope and wish that most cities already have agencies to assist with housing, benefits and addiction information, necessities like food,showers and a change of clothes.
The charity I work for works closely with agencies that do daily headcounts of those who sleep rough,and also those who advise drinkers, addicts and the otherwise vulnerable. We offer two meals a day, showers and clothing. Also benefits advice, and links with others who can help. But the numbers keep going up, we see new faces every week. Many are very challenging and difficult to help. There are successes...but it often must feel like battling through quicksand to my co- workers.
The charity I work for works closely with agencies that do daily headcounts of those who sleep rough,and also those who advise drinkers, addicts and the otherwise vulnerable. We offer two meals a day, showers and clothing. Also benefits advice, and links with others who can help. But the numbers keep going up, we see new faces every week. Many are very challenging and difficult to help. There are successes...but it often must feel like battling through quicksand to my co- workers.
//Perhaps we could look to other countries to see how they manage.//
AL.
I suspect countries like Croatia supply jack to their homeless.They don't supply as much as a kind word let alone housing,shelters,food,benefits.etc.
They just let their citizens in penury shuttle off to the UK where we carry their burden.
Croatia would hate the UK to leave the EU. I wonder why?
AL.
I suspect countries like Croatia supply jack to their homeless.They don't supply as much as a kind word let alone housing,shelters,food,benefits.etc.
They just let their citizens in penury shuttle off to the UK where we carry their burden.
Croatia would hate the UK to leave the EU. I wonder why?
I worked in a 'Homeless' shelter for 2 Christmases running. We were able to find permanent homes for over 1/2 the people. But most of them left of their own accord, shortly afterwards. Several of them told me the same thing '' we do not want a permanent home'' . I found that hard to believe at first. But they said they ''want the freedom''. They consider having a permanent home is NOT freedom !!
I expect you think I am being silly but please tell me why NOW we are seeing more and more homeless? In my day all we had were tramps. Few and far between. What has happened to society to bring this about?
Crazy scenario to my way of thinking? Is it divorce, is it immigration, is it mental health problems? What has created this, I would really like to know.
Crazy scenario to my way of thinking? Is it divorce, is it immigration, is it mental health problems? What has created this, I would really like to know.
//In Britain every night there are approx 307,000 people ( 0.46% of the population) sleeping rough //
have a look at this, AL. it's important to state that the terms "rough sleeper" and "homeless person" are not synonymous.
https:/
have a look at this, AL. it's important to state that the terms "rough sleeper" and "homeless person" are not synonymous.
https:/
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