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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:
Feefeetrixabelle · 20/10/2018 14:01

It’s really easy to dismiss the situation as him scamming you. Maybe he does have a language barrier that’s stopping him understanding. Maybe he has mental health issues that stopping him accepting the help.

But protect yourself OP because maybe he’s maliciously lying. Read the threads. Give him the info and enable him to help himself.

Feefeetrixabelle · 20/10/2018 14:03

There’s a strong chance that as the shops shut he was heading home. Because a truly homeless person grabs a premium shop doorway. Usually shielded from the weather and well lit. Also cctv to put off attackers and a decent passing of bar goers who may donate further

Blatherskite · 20/10/2018 14:04

"He packed up and left as the shops shut"

He probably went home OP. Lots do it.

davisday · 20/10/2018 14:05

He packed up and left as the shops shut

A good old 9-5 beggar.

formerbabe · 20/10/2018 14:06

Why are you doing this op? Confused

Sorry, but you sound like a bit of a mug to me!

Original poster
Veganfortheanimals · 20/10/2018 14:08

I'm going to print of the information online about selling big issue and accepting the room he was offered..and give him the printed information next time I'm in town.honestly I feel bad coming home to my nice warm house,I very nearly offered him my sofa....but I won't ive got kids and obviously I don't know him..and I am starting to take on board what you all seem to be saying x

OP posts:
Frequency · 20/10/2018 14:09

Yes, there is a man in my town who sits outside the shopping centre all day with his two dogs. He has a home. And a drug habit. People buy his dogs food and toys but most who know him don't give him money.

No-one who is mentally sound would chose begging as a way of living. I'm not saying people should give them money if they don't need it but a little more compassion would go a long way.

OP, keep buying the dog food if you want to but maybe step back a little emotionally. Some people don't want to be helped, for whatever reason.

DisplayPurposesOnly · 20/10/2018 14:11

I've not heard of Street Vet before, so thanks to the PP who posted it.

Original poster
Veganfortheanimals · 20/10/2018 14:11

Formerbabe....because everyone just walks past like he's invisible ..and I just couldn't

OP posts:
davisday · 20/10/2018 14:12

I'm going to print of the information online about selling big issue and accepting the room he was offered..and give him the printed information next time I'm in town

Omg OP STOP!!

honestly I feel bad coming home to my nice warm house,I very nearly offered him my sofa....but I won't ive got kids and obviously I don't know him..

Holy crap. No way. Just no.

and I am starting to take on board what you all seem to be saying x

Clearly not.

formerbabe · 20/10/2018 14:13

Ridiculous. Sorry but I wouldn't give this a second of my brain space. Don't you have anything else to think about op?

Cococachara · 20/10/2018 14:16

The best thing to do to help the homeless is giving to a homeless charity, who can provide the actual support and have the expertise to help.
I know you said you didn't but please never invite him or anyone else in that situation into your home, you don't know what mental health problems or substance abuse problems they have.

UpstartCrow · 20/10/2018 14:17

Veganfortheanimals
Please look at the first line of your OP - you asked ''what else can I do?''
You have put yourself in the position where you will not now be able to walk past him without giving.
But nothing you give will be enough to fix his problem (which is not just that he is homeless.)
If you find thousands to house him, there will be another person who needs help tomorrow and they will play on your conscience just as much. Not everyone is nice but a bit hapless, or just needs a bit of help to sort themselves out.

Stop giving your money away and save it for your own children. Put it into savings and education for them, so they dont end up on the street.

AamdC · 20/10/2018 14:18

Im not entirely sure i beleive thisHmm

Blatherskite · 20/10/2018 14:19

I'd give him the print outs just so I could say "Look, I know you're lying" and then not give him another penny. It's not helping him.

If you have spare cash then why not donate it to a local homeless charity where it will actually do some good? If he is really homeless, then he can go to the shelter who will be better placed to help and advise him.

BayTrees · 20/10/2018 14:22

Where is all this affordable housing coming from? Once winter hostels close down, do you imagine councils are able to magically produce places out of thin air? If getting even the most basic housing was possible, do you really imagine so many people would be stuck on the streets? Even if they work, there is nothing like the quantity of affordable housing available. Open your eyes to what is really happening to some of the most vulnerable in our society and hope it never happens to someone you know.

PomBearsAtWaitrose · 20/10/2018 14:23

his English is not good So presumably that's MN code for 'foreign'

No, it's MN code for "he might have misunderstood" Which is exactly what the OP said. And if the council are offering to help at all he is a resident as they will tell even british people to fuck off if they aren't local.

Original poster
Veganfortheanimals · 20/10/2018 14:23

Thankyou ,for the comment s ...not what I expected ..perhaps I am more gullible than I thought...I will leave the info and printing stuff off ,don't want to come a cross as patronising...I was just trying to help thou .

OP posts:
Bombardier25966 · 20/10/2018 14:26

Some of the comments on here are vile (yes davisday I'm looking at you). There are people that pose as homeless, but there is an ever increasing number of people that genuinely have no home. We don't know which applies here.

There's no certainty that he will receive housing benefits. If he has not passed the habitual residence test, or if he is an asylum seeker pending appeal, then he may receive a small living allowance but no housing costs. Or he may be entitled to JSA, HB etc. We don't know.

Someone mentioned food banks. Most limit you to a certain number of visits (and you need a voucher to get anything at all), usually three, and once you've used them you won't receive further assistance.

We don't know enough about the accommodation offer or his reasons for refusing it.

My advice would be to find a suitable agency to help him. There's no point in giving them information sheets if he can't read English. Do you know where he is from, and why he is here? For instance, if he is an asylum seeker you there might be a refugee forum in your area or closest city. If he is Polish (for example) then there will be a Polish community organisation that can support him. If he has a particular faith, that will be somewhere he can find support.

Hope that's helpful OP.

davisday · 20/10/2018 14:28

Some of the comments on here are vile (yes davisday I'm looking at you

Look all you like. I haven't said anything vile.

Professional beggars exist.

Original poster
Veganfortheanimals · 20/10/2018 14:31

I've emailed our local Salvation Army church ...and asked what help support they provide ..

OP posts:
PhaedrasChocolate · 20/10/2018 14:32

I don't know why some of you have to be wankers about it. The OP took the bloke in good faith and was trying to help. Calling her ridiculous, and a mug.. Really? Even if you're right, no need to be shitty Hmm

RockinHippy · 20/10/2018 14:37

"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."

Christ, what rock have you been living under this last decade

That really isn't how it works these days & hasn't for a long time, you have no way of knowing what his immigration status is & that comment makes you look incredibly ignorant.

This could have been my brother & he's English born & bred & worked all of his life. If he didn't have me realising that he was being shafted by the benefit system & looked into it as the OP is trying here, he would be homeless, with a similar amount in his pocket. It's only because he is now severely ill & disabled that we managed to get him rehoused at all & that's only because he agreed to move towns.

OP, there should be a homeless outreach service, social worker, or advocacy service depending on his needs. Though even with my DB severely ill, he didn't qualify for SS help, the Advocacy service have been a godsend though

formerbabe · 20/10/2018 14:40

I've emailed our local Salvation Army church ...and asked what help support they provide

Honestly op...you said you have children... surely you have enough on your plate?

RockinHippy · 20/10/2018 14:42

I agree the big issue bit looks dodgy though, you don't have to be homeless to sell it, it's about getting them back on their feet. A lady here was homeless & selling it & continues now she has been given a roof over her head.

Sadly career beggars are also a thing, we have loads here & they really pee me off as they take from the genuine homeless to fund their drug habits

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