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Original poster

I can’t stop thinking about homeless people in this weather!

28 replies

Imknackeredzzz · 08/02/2021 22:33

Just that, I went to take the bins out earlier and I can’t back in with hands that looked frostbitten. I imagine there must be a huge number of rough sleepers still out and about at the moment, how on Earth are they not dying of hypothermia!? These poor people

OP posts:
Ilovethewild · 08/02/2021 22:35

COVID hotels are still in use and there are outreach teams going out to offer accommodation and support. Cv19 has been an opportunity to get people off the streets and many have been helped, but you are right, it is tough still esp for those mistrusting of services designed to help them.

pumpkinbump · 08/02/2021 22:37

I'm the same and can't get past the thoughts. I also think about animals being left out in this, and women and children locked in with abusive men. It really gets me down.

Updatemate · 08/02/2021 22:44

Most local authorities have emergency provision for when the temperature drops below 3°C, ours certainly does. There's a number that you (the homeless person or someone working with them/ concerned person) can call and a bed will be found. Sometimes this is in a temporary hostel, sometimes a spare room scheme, sometimes a hotel. You should be able to find out the information on your local authority website, or the salvation army or shelter often have it as do the local housing options service.

StillWeRise · 08/02/2021 22:47

Shelter
Refuge
RSPCA
there will also be local charities you can support with donations or your time

33goingon64 · 08/02/2021 22:49

Give a charity like Shelter £5 per month. It doesn't solve the problem but it helps me feel less guilty as I know I'm doing something.

Soboredofitall · 08/02/2021 22:49

I used to volunteer at a church that was part of a group who provided temporary shelter and food for the homeless but unfortunately they closed due to Covid. As well as the main charities there are apps where you can notify charities of where homeless people are sleeping and they pick them up and take them to a safe place for the night, if there's no hotels available. Not sure if it's available everywhere but we have it in our area.

Fgs1 · 08/02/2021 22:50

Nobody needs to be homeless there’s actually an awful lot of help available out there. Most are drug users or alcoholics unfortunately and won’t accept the help

toomuchfaster · 08/02/2021 22:50

Our council has been advertising it's cold weather housing scheme on FB for a couple of days now.

dublingirl66 · 08/02/2021 22:52

Was just thinking of this earlier as I shivered in the kitchen
Indoors

Saw a NY times article about chefs, waiters etc who were laid off due to covid and now live under a bridge
Can't stop thinking about it

hilariousnamehere · 08/02/2021 22:52

The homeless people in the city where I worked in the library used to walk all night to avoid freezing to death, and come in as soon as we opened the library to thaw out and have a rest. They were never any trouble and my heart always hurt for them, but there were a few regulars who we couldn't help beyond having a warm space during the day. I'm glad to hear that the covid hotel thing is still happening as I have wondered what will happen with libraries closed.

Original poster
Imknackeredzzz · 08/02/2021 22:58

@hilariousnamehere Jesus that’s awful

OP posts:
KevinTheBird · 08/02/2021 23:00

I think (in England, at least) councils are required to put emergency weather protocol in place where homeless people are offered temporary housing while it is below a certain temperature

Glitterkitten24 · 08/02/2021 23:01

My husband is in the he emergency services. He reckons that very few homeless people are actually obliged to be on the streets now, unless they choose it. There are loads of options available, however some people refuse any help at alll.

Athenajm80 · 08/02/2021 23:03

@hilariousnamehere

The homeless people in the city where I worked in the library used to walk all night to avoid freezing to death, and come in as soon as we opened the library to thaw out and have a rest. They were never any trouble and my heart always hurt for them, but there were a few regulars who we couldn't help beyond having a warm space during the day. I'm glad to hear that the covid hotel thing is still happening as I have wondered what will happen with libraries closed.
Have you seen The Public, currently on Netflix? It's about some homeless people who took over a library.
Mrstumbletap · 08/02/2021 23:04

They do die. A local homeless man in our town died of hypothermia in a car park last year. Even with coats and sleeping bag etc.

That story breaks my heart every time I think of it. If only I had known I could have gone down there and given extra blankets, hot soup, hot drinks, gloves etc. It's so so sad.

I just assumed he would have been in one of the local church sleep nights, they do it on a rota my friend volunteers there. Why wouldn't he go? Maybe he didn't want to, maybe he thought he would be fine and manage the cold. Heartbreaking.

Emeraldshamrock · 08/02/2021 23:06

It is awful I'd an appointment in the centre for 7am every few doorways there was people lying down on cardboard most had sandwiches beside them dropped off by workers passing by.
There is a lot of red tape around using homeless services in Ireland it isn't as simple as a hostel been available if you move counties which is ridiculous as no county is their home they're homeless.
EE men are particularly affected too with rising rents.
Hostel aren't always safe thankfully there is now an independent investigation into hostels due to the amount of bodies discovered in doorways or tents who'd rather sleep rough then attend a hostel.
Mind you they have to phone daily for a bed ridiculous again they should know they need a bed the following night.
My rent was 950 euro per month in 2012 now it is 1800 and I'm lucky to have a rent controlled property some landlords are charged well over 2k it is not affordable.

Emeraldshamrock · 08/02/2021 23:06

Apologies for the essay.

Redglitter · 08/02/2021 23:07

My husband is in the he emergency services. He reckons that very few homeless people are actually obliged to be on the streets now, unless they choose it. There are loads of options available, however some people refuse any help at all

Was about to say the same. Some of my shift have spent ages with people trying to persuade them to go in out the cold, given them phone numbers for organisations & even offered to run them to the homeless centre only to be turned down. A lot have refused to stay at the hotels available just now. Its so sad that they prefer outside but in some cases it's absolutely a lifestyle choice

Floridaflipflops · 08/02/2021 23:08

I hear you. I bought a quilt and a sandwich for a lady that looked homeless who was sat on the floor out side the shop. It was freezing. She was really grateful. Life can really fuck people up sometimes.

ImFree2doasiwant · 08/02/2021 23:12

@Imknackeredzzz I'm a housing officer working with homeless people. There is SWEP (severe weather emergency provision) which provides somewhere to sleep if the temperature drops for 3 nights in a row .

Currently, There s also the "everyone in" Covid provision. It is very difficult, we have people being repeatedly evicted from these places, but have to try everything to keep them accommodated.

If you are worried, make a report to streetlink, and an outreach worker will go out

TheUnquestionedAnswer · 08/02/2021 23:12

I've got loads of clothes I could donate to homeless women, but not sure if anywhere is open to drop them off.

Floridaflipflops · 08/02/2021 23:12

Its so sad that they prefer outside but in some cases it's absolutely a lifestyle choice

ODFO. It’s not a life style choice. The centres they can stay in are full of people drugged out if their heads. You don’t get a single occupant room with a nice bed. You have to share. How can you sleep if your worried your going to get battered and mugged? Some of these people have severe mental health problems and can’t access the proper help.

HeronLanyon · 08/02/2021 23:15

Two rough sleepers are camped out in a shop door round the corner from me. Couldn’t shake thinking about them this evening. Walked some coffee round - they’d gone - I just hope somewhere warm.
It’s really shocking to think about. MKes me so angry. Right back to 80s in a lot of ways here (central london)

DipSwimSwoosh · 08/02/2021 23:16

Yes I always think that when it's stormy too. Charities do exist thank goodness, and do great work, and I do donate to them. However, we know that it is the most vulnerable who end up on the streets, and they aren't always the best ay accessing help.

Glitterkitten24 · 08/02/2021 23:17

I do appreciate your response, however are you more or less likely to be mugged on a street in a sleeping bag, or on a room in a hostel? The solution might not be perfect, but when we are taking about freezing to death on the street or having a room in a hostel where you are warm and safe (if in communial living with some erm, characters). The OP is about freezing to death on the streets and there is usually an alternative to that, I.e accommodation available. Some people chose not to take that option, for whatever reason.