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Original poster

Homeless man near me

99 replies

Veganfortheanimals · 20/10/2018 12:57

He has dogs,I've been giving him money £20 today ,And dog food ,dog biscuits ,flee treatments etc...what else can I do ? He says the council have offered him a room at £50 a week.but if he takes it he can't sell the big issue ,which gets him out and about..and benefit wise he's only entitled to approximately £50 a week ,as the room is £50 ,he wouldn't be able to eat...his English is not good ,so I wondered if he had misunderstood...or is this why so many people are homeless ?..

OP posts:
HoleyCoMoley · 20/10/2018 13:02

You wonder if he has misunderstood what? The big issue have advisors, perhaps you could find out about food banks, night shelters, outreach support.

MacosieAsunter · 20/10/2018 13:04

You're being suckered Im afraid.

his English is not good So presumably that's MN code for 'foreign' in which case, he's homeless because he has come to this country with no support network, no job, no savings and like Dick Whittington thinks the place is paved with gold.

Original poster
Veganfortheanimals · 20/10/2018 13:09

I'm not being suckerd..it's my choice to give him money ,he's not asked for anything .

OP posts:
Aprilislonggone · 20/10/2018 13:11

I also 'befriended' a homeless man with 2 dogs. He has a dw and a house I was told. He was telling his sob story his dogs needed treatment but he doesn't have the cash. Gave a time /place he was supposed to have them at but needed £28. I rang the place to see if I could pay by card.
The treatment was to be free...
He lost out on the freebies I have given him over the past few years as he imo pushed his luck too far.

davisday · 20/10/2018 13:11

Or he is a drug addict as so many are and all you are doing is fuelling him. Or he may be a professional beggar, yes they exist, very very convincing to boot. Or maybe he doesn’t actually want to be off the streets. You have dug yourself an almighty hole.

SinglePringle · 20/10/2018 13:13

Or perhaps he’s left a war torn / economically ravaged country in a desperate attempt to salvage some food or life.

OP, lots of local councils have a Rough Sleepers Line - you can call and let them know he’s sleeping rough and they make contact.

There may also be a Street Vet in your area.

davisday · 20/10/2018 13:13

He is spinning you a line about the big issue as well.

vanillasky1001 · 20/10/2018 13:13

Big Issue sellers don’t just have to be literally on the streets, just vulnerably housed. I think he’s having you on.

SinglePringle · 20/10/2018 13:13

*salvage some form of life.

davisday · 20/10/2018 13:14

And the rent. If he was paying rent on a room he would get housing benefit. So his ‘£50’ would still be his.

Sorry OP.

Kezzie200 · 20/10/2018 13:14

Im sure he will be able to eat as we have food banks too.
If he has an address then he will be able to start to look for work so he needs to tap into the support network he has help from and use their advisors.
Im sure the big issue as an organisation dont want to see people remaining homeless in order to tap into their opportunities!

Original poster
Veganfortheanimals · 20/10/2018 13:15

Why is he better off selling the big issue ,rather than claiming benefits and renting a room....benefits are £50 a week ish ...so he must get more than that selling the big issue....if he could sell the big issues for a few months after getting the room from the council...he would be able to get on his own two feet..but he's not allowed to ..

OP posts:
davisday · 20/10/2018 13:16

Vegan, he is spinning you a line.

If he was housed he would get housing benefit to cover the rent. He would also get JSA/ESA

HollowTalk · 20/10/2018 13:16

Are you in London? Is there an organisation you can contact about him?

davisday · 20/10/2018 13:17

You can sell the big issue when you have a place to live, depending on the situation.

FissionChips · 20/10/2018 13:17

Are people still able to get tax credits by selling the big issue? I know that was happening a few years ago. Might explain why he’s better off selling.

Frequency · 20/10/2018 13:19

If he's an unregistered/illegal immigrant would he get housing benefit? I thought they genuinely did only did food vouchers etc to the value of not very much?

WrongKindOfFace · 20/10/2018 13:21

He is completely and utterly spinning you a line. He’d get the room paid for. He may have a room already. He would almost certainly be able to continue to sell the BI. He may well already be getting other benefits.

Contact the local homeless services if you are concerned about his welfare.

Original poster
Veganfortheanimals · 20/10/2018 13:22

That's crazy ,if he can get tax credits ,but not a roof over his head..I will phone the council on Monday ,they have a duty to help him.

OP posts:
Original poster
Veganfortheanimals · 20/10/2018 13:24

I'm looking for local homeless services,but nothing is coming up..this is a small town .i can't find anything.we are 30 mins from a big city ,so maybe that's a better bet to try

OP posts:
fairgame84 · 20/10/2018 13:25

I used to live next door to a 'homeless' man with a dog. He used to beg in town every day then come home with a load of his mates at night. His left when somebody overdosed at his house and it got raided which led to him being housed at her majesty's pleasure.
I've never give money to the homeless after that. I give food and drinks instead.

davisday · 20/10/2018 13:25

That's crazy ,if he can get tax credits ,but not a roof over his head..

You seem absolutely linked to the fact he CAN get a roof over his head. He has been offered and REFUSED a roof over his head.

He is a beggar. It’s what they do.

davisday · 20/10/2018 13:25

*blinded.

FissionChips · 20/10/2018 13:26

He council are helping him, they’ve offered him a room.

Original poster
Veganfortheanimals · 20/10/2018 13:28

I have given food and drinks ....I find it hard to belive anyone would chose to sit on a cold floor all day just hoping someone will buy a magazine off them,if they absolutely didn't have to.

OP posts:
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