Tired of the performative beggars and alcoholics this time of year

Which town is this? I am sure you won't say because outing etc,, but thought I'd chance it.

If my child grew up with as little empathy as you I’d have done a terrible job as a parent

Yup I’m from a small town so every single single who is homeless is offered help and I know that is true from people who work in the system. There are still a couple we see and they are begging and going back to flats or using drugs which the homes they are offered don’t allow.

I dont mean to sound bad, but until they get card readers they must surely have seen donations dropping now? I never have cash on me and I've often wanted to give a few bob. They either refuse food or dont eat it IME anyway.

There are scammers, chancers and organised begging groups everywhere now though,so its often had to know who is genuine anymore.

The problem is they are overwhelmed by people who do take advantage pretending they don't exist is mental they are an issue that need to be delt with as opposed to genuine people who need to be helped

Wow.
You know, there was FB on my local city page the other day, showing police and local authorities clearing away a camp and tents just outside of the city walls. The absolute vast majority of people commenting were outraged and wanting to do something to help those that were being moved on - not helped mind, just moved. I was pleasantly surprised by the empathic response. Thank fuck I live somewhere nicer than you.

Its clear the op isn't feeling sympathy with genuinely homeless people, but she is sick if seeing the scammers taking money and resources away from the real homeless.
Glasgow is the same, its the same people sitting outside Central Station, its a drugs ring operating it.
And where i live the same Romanian women has been selling the big issue for over ten years, its became a job for her. I think thats taking the piss myself.

I remember once they flew loads of them home from London as they wanted to go back but couldn’t afford it. They must be sold a pack of lies about coming here

I sincerely hope you think about the feedback you're getting. It does not take much for a persons life to unravel- job loss, ill health. You'd be surprised how quickly it can happen so just check your thoughts now as you just don't know what your future or that of your loved ones could bring.

That sounds to me like a good idea.

That's really mean of you. People on the streets are usually desperate. Have some empathy and compassion.

In a smallish town it's quite possible to know where they live

That’s amazing! So we dont have a homeless problem then? Great news. You need to tell the local council and Shelter and Crisis asap. They’ll be thrilled to hear the truth.

I haven’t seen any of what you describe OP but we’re very rural. What I have seen on various FB pages is anonymous requests from people running out of food and I cant help but wonder if they’re real or not as it seems to be mostly weekends these posts appear.

Oh, we’re still trotting out the ‘they’re rich, making hundreds everyday before heading g back to their mansions’ are we? I thought that died back in the 80s?
Are they still eating people’s pets and the Queens/Kings swans or is that just the immigrants???

I know right? They keep them out of the way and then the streets stay pretty. Bring them back I say.

(obviously sarcastic. This whole thread has made me very sad)

You know each and every one of them and where they live? Course you do. 🙄

Jesus wept, this thread! Quite possibly the most inhumane one I've ever seen started on MN. So sorry your precious sensibilities are so offended by these people who are at society's rock bottom and just trying to survive, OP. If you don't like it, don't look. Or maybe it's not too late to ask Santa to bring you some empathy this Christmas?

So those that disagree with the OP are all virtue signallers, really? How sad to think that way. I am glad not to be judging people, and deciding who I think has made a bad choice, when I know absolutely nothing about them, or their life. And it is not just men, who happen to be homeless!

I think you're being extremely unreasonable. Thank your lucky stars you've never been in their position of had to love someone who is. Addiction is a huge affliction and in case you hadn't noticed the country is in a mess. In fact I find your view/post disgusting

Precisely.

Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?

All of them?

Our town has a big shopping centre so they target people who do not live locally. If you live locally you’ve seen them being dropped off by car. There are several performative sets around the parking areas, sleeping bags, cardboard etc. They literally work shifts, the car turns up, the guy sitting down gets in the car and a new guy gets out to start his shift. Very different to the genuinely homeless and street sleeping population (which is sadly growing).

They may not be street homeless, but people who are forced to do this are not in a good place.

I think @Onand might be on a wind up to start a thread like this at this time of year.

Much as I like AB, listening to one person's opinion and ideas about homelessness - however good those ideas are - does not show you the reality of current homeless services and what it's like to access those services as a vulnerable person.

Frankly I'm not interested in the opinions of someone like OP who has no clue about the subject, which is very complex, beyond the very surface level encounters she has whilst walking around our cities.