Tired of the performative beggars and alcoholics this time of year

You seriously believe charities ‘deliver services’ to all those experiencing homelessness?

Do you also believe services are available for all those experiencing addiction and/or mental health problems?

Also the hilarity of saying you’re promoting addiction and alcoholism. If I was homeless living in a tent, had nowhere decent to wash or toilet, had limited access to feminine hygiene products, food, water, warmth etc I’d probably hit the crack pipe or bottle too. It’s a waste of time even replying to these types of posts anyway so I’m not sure why I’m even bothering!

There are lots of levels of homelessness, but rough sleeping is the most dangerous. The issue is very very complex. It's not just down to available accommodation. A lot of these people are unable to cope with conventional society so the thought of living in any form of proper accommodation, just doesn't work for them.
My ex husband and children's father is a rough sleeper. Marriage break up, drug addiction, poor mental health its a slippery slope. It's not even that he hasn't got family who care, his family love him very much but can't help him as he's so vile.

Spot on!!!!

People don't realise that they are promoting addiction by giving cash.

Except your donation could be the one that pays for the toxic polluted 'heroin' {Chinese illegally made Nitazines and fentanyl} that kills him or her.

The oldskool Afghan heroin at least could be easily reversed with the antidote, naloxone. {Prenoxad}

{Can be carried legally by members of public to reverse opioid overdose}

I sometimes would go into Pennys and buy them hat scarf gloves and buy sambo and coffee for them instead of going money.

I get that you think that but at the end of the day some of those people have huge issues that we don’t know about. Also I always wonder if some of those women who are outside in the pouring rain all day actually have a choice or are they not allowed home until they have collected a certain amount. Even if they are on the make there are easier ways to earn a living. Poor souls. Check your privilege.

Best to give to shelter and not give cash. You can be sympathetic to genuine homeless people but aware of gangs and grifters. We had a local homeless man we all gave to, at the street bbq someone popped over to the train station and invited him over. Charming guy, got lots of good and help from the street. Turns out he was a complete con artist. Nice flat in Fulham, all over the papers went he was charged. I can have sympathy for those struggling and be angry at those taking advantage at the same time

I often give to beggars and those who live on the streets, I’d rather give directly even if I sometimes get scammed than give to a charity who spend it all on admin and mailing.

Yup this is true, often there is still a background of trauma/neglect though. Generally the substances are used as an attempt to block things out or to feel something.

Do not get me started on boarding schools!

Ages ago it was, I was a student. A lady sitting on a sleeping bag was begging outside Burgher King in Tottenham Court Road. That day I decided to give myself a treat, hence Burgher King. The cheapest meal I was going to get for myself was 6 pounds. I asked the lady if I could buy her a burgher meal. She agreed and walked with me and her sleeping bag in. Naively, I said - could we please have 2 meals, pointing to the cheapest version, stupidly thinking that beggars can't be choosers and I had the right to order. Oh, no, said the lady, I don't eat that rubbish, I only eat Aberdeen angus burgher and I don't eat chips or drink fizzy drinks. I paid for her one burgher, because I was too stupid to say to her 'can't you see, I am a student, you are being rude and ungrateful and I never had enough money to have an Aberdeen angus steak', and walked away. It was a good lesson for me. I still give to charities and i still give to the beggars in the streets, but now I know that not all poor people are automatically wonderful and not all wealthy people are horrid by default.

They may not be literally living outdoors but most will have very unstable accommodation. Their lives are an absolute piece of shit. I feel bad for them. Not that I can afford to give them any money.
If I was a multimillionaire I would try and give the more genuine seeming ones a few quid in winter.
A lot seem to be controlled by Roma gangs from what I've heard. So sadly anyone who looks like they're from that community gets somewhat shunned by me. Despite their lives clearly being rubbish. I do take them as scammers. Even if some aren't. Which makes me feel sad as it makes me feel like I'm racist. Which is absolutely appalling. And goes against everything I believe in.

There are many children of wealthy people who become full on addicts.
These as children had the very 'best' but were lacking in some way, probably boarding school and a remote relationship with their parents, brought up by Nannies.

Heroin and cocaine especially appeal.

They don't have to scratch about or steal or beg, but there are a lot of wealthy addicts out there.

Most of these beggars aren’t even homeless!

Homelessness is a very complex issue.
The increasing unaffordability of housing is no doubt a large contributing factor. It's hard to see how this can improve and I worry that we will end up with tent cities as in the USA ☹️

Ah but it says things that people don’t like to hear so it MUST be a “right wing rag” pushing a fascist agenda and read by racist “gammons”. Or something.

I live in a very small town and we have the same Big Issue sellers that we never see throughout the year, but come Christmas time they are out in force. They make nasty comments if you don't buy a copy or give them money.

Why don't people realise this?
Begging is very lucrative if one has a good spot.

We have the same woman who appears every Christmas to sell the Big Issue. I bought it from her once and she asked me for money as well which I don't think they are supposed to do. I gave her some change but I don't buy the Big Issue from her anymore and very few people do. Everyone knows she just comes for Christmas

Some, probably most are genuine. Sometimes early in the freezing cold morning you see them sleeping in doorways and I'm sure they're not choosing too.
My DD sometimes gives food to people on the street rather than money. She feels sorry for them, especially if they have a dog. They always seem grateful, which suggests they have a genuine need.
I know around 15 years ago my cousin's boyfriend was talking to a beggar who said he drove his car in to town to do begging and then showed him a year old BMW.

@Lunde I'm sorry to hear about your brother, what a tragedy. So sad he couldn't be helped💐

The is a strong correlation between poverty and addiction and trauma and addiction though. And if you combine two of these factors you are more likely to become homeless.