A friend in need? Broke on the streets of London.

[Miss Inquiry]

A old friend/aquaintance of mine in his 30's called me yesterday to ask for help, he is recently back in the country after working all over europe as a travel rep/ski seasons. He hoped to find a job in london, but it's not going too well and he is totally broke. He called (after hearing from him only once in the last year) to ask if I could pay for 1 night in a hostel for him (�15) as he has been sleeping rough. He has no one to turn to, he has a troubled past, went away to get away from drugs/bad aquaintances, his family is very disfunctional, so can't turn to them for support. I reluctantly paid for the hostel for a few nights (knowing I will never see the � again) and urged him to try and sort himself out.
I think he called me knowing I would be a cash machine for him, I have a good job, a house and he knows I have a conscience that would not have let me sleep knowing he was on the streets in london in the rain, cold and wet. But what will he do in a few days again faced with no money? Is there anywhere he can go and stay for free in London, and try and get some help? The Samaritains? I want to help him (even tho it is not my problem) without having to give him any �. He is 30 after all and has messed up his own life, and needs to take responsibility for his actions, and learn from his mistakes, but in the immediate future is there anything I could suggest as help?

[Octavius]

http://www.shelter.org.uk/

would be a good place to start.

[divegirl]

Hi, I know this isn't much help, but atleast these offer cheaper places to stay...says �5 on the link

http://www.hostelworld.com/findabed.php/Chosen City.London/ChosenCountry.England?source=googl eadwordslondon

Aside from that you could try Shelter.

Lisa x

[PinkFizz]

What would happen if he turned up at the local Council Offices and asus he was homeless and peniless? Don't they have to put you into some sort of B& Buntil you can find a job etc? Could be totally wrong but thats what I thought.

[PinkFizz]

*asus?? meant so say 'said'.

[PinkFizz]

*asus?? meant to say 'said'.

[Miss Inquiry]

Thank you so much.

It's a horrible situation he has got himself into, I will look into these suggestions later today, and hopefully help keep him off the streets. x

[serendipity1]

im not religious but my mum always used to say "god helps those that help themselves" this is very true and you cannot get your friend out of the mess hes in he has to do it for himself , and you are in danger of becoming used by your so called friend , you can only do so much , and i think youve done your bit. x

[Ethel]

Pinkfizz - that only applies to people who are extremely vulnerable - usually because they have a young family.

A fit, single man - not a hope.

[Ethel]

Miss Inquiry

Your friend will be entitled to a day rate from the DSS - he will have to stand in a long queue every day for his money.

This money is not much but should pay for a bed in a hostel, and a hot meal.

[PinkFizz]

Ethel - oh,I didn't realise that.

[Miss Inquiry]

Ethel, I was thinking the same thing, he is fit, young, no small kids in tow, so there so many more worthwile cases out there. I am so angry at him for messing his life up, he needs someone to actually get to the root of his problem, if they gave him a house I am not sure he would value it enough. Like serendipity says he needs to help himself. I want him to have to stand in a long que, and reflect on what his life is all about, but at the same time, I don't want him sleeping in the rain/cold when ultimatly I could help him finacially, but it seems like throwing � at the problem.....
Ohhhh dilema.
I will tell him to go to the DSS and get in the que for now.