Number Of People Sleeping Rough In London Has Increased By 55 Per Cent

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/sep/24/homeless-young-people-sleeping-on-night-buses-as-housing-crisis-deepens

Why hasn't there been an almighty rush to provide vasts amounts of money along with offers of accommodation etc, for our own?

Perhaps it needs some sort of iconic photograph, so as to highlight their needs?

[andy-hughes]

I honestly don't know how the government reconciles its stance on taking in migrants when it has such a high proportion of people sleeping rough - but I am sure some Tory suit will be along shortly on the telly to tell me.

[dieseldick]

not news news sadly most of them will be our own british citizens and ex servicemen .

thanks to labour.

[gness]

I can't say it's "helping my own" as I'm not British......but I live here and CRISIS is one of the charities I support as much as I possibly can and in different ways.

There is nothing to stop you, AOG, beginning a huge campaign to make Britain a place where there are no people...young or old....sleeping on the streets....
How about it?

[Mosaic]

It's not a rush, but it's day in, day out (or night in, night out) - the Salvation Army is only one of many large well-organised charities who provide for the homeless. 'Befriend the friendless' I believe they say.
And then there are lots of small individual shelters.
So help is given.

[Baldric]

As dieseldick rightly says, a lot of Rough Sleepers will be Ex Servicemen
(there but for the grace etc). A lot of these Guys have Mental Health problems PTSD and similar, and a lot of people have a reluctance to get involved with those kind of problems usually due to not understanding them properly.

[ummmm]

I was watching that programme on Oxford St. Does the figure quoted include all the Romanians sleeping rough by Marble Arch and in the under passes?

[anotheoldgit]

andy-hughes

/// I honestly don't know how the government reconciles its stance on taking in migrants when it has such a high proportion of people sleeping rough - but I am sure some Tory suit will be along shortly on the telly to tell me. ///

I wouldn't criticise the 'Tory Suit' too much andy, if it was left to the 'Labour Suit', (or is it the less formal shorts that their leader is now wearing?) they would invite in even more, which would only escalate the problem we are now experiencing.

[anotheoldgit]

ummmm

/// I was watching that programme on Oxford St. Does the figure quoted include all the Romanians sleeping rough by Marble Arch and in the under passes? ///

Could well be so, but what is certain, they won't be joined by the Syrians, no they will all be tucked up in nice comfortable beds.

[sandyRoe]

Rough sleeping, as has already been said here, has more to do with mental health issues and addictions, than anything else.
There are many charities that try to help. Crisis, formerly Crisis at Christmas, has a high profile. Could you help them, AOG?

[anotheoldgit]

sandyRoe

/// Could you help them, AOG? ///

Unfortunately not, but the government and certain others could, but wait a minute! they are busy helping out the 'new comers' aren't they?

[THECORBYLOON]

Perhaps those who expect supporters of the immigration policy to take in some immigrants could spare some money, if not accommodation, to the rough-sleepers...

[youngmafbog]

The problem with sleeping rough is that for one reason or another they dont want to be part of society be it for mental health reasons, drug or runaways etc.

There is not need for homelessness, the local councils do have obligations to people from their area. But you cant help people that dont want to be helped in that way, all you can do is try and ensure their safety as best you can.