How much is a bed for the night for a homeless person?

[Byefornow]

There was a homeless person sitting outside a shop I went into about an hour ago. He asked me for some change when I rushed in and I said sorry and he said, have a good evening. When I came out it was pouring down with rain and he was literally sitting on the floor with an umbrella over him but still soaking wet.

I gave him £10 and he said, thanks, I only need £15 more for a bed for the night. I don’t know how much he already had obviously so I am wondering how much a bed costs presumably in a hostel? And feeling bad that I didn’t give him the extra £15 which I could have done, even as a one off.

I don't know if it's area dependent, but most homeless shelters around me are free. It's just a case of first served, first come.

Maybe he was hoping to go to a b&b?

Yes I did wonder if it was a hotel as some of them I know opened up to homeless people during the pandemic.

Some shelters do charge, but imagine the price depends on where in the country you are.

Hmm, he could have been genuine, but the "I just need slightly more than you've given me for [cost that sounds reasonable]" is a common line to guilt trip you into giving more than you otherwise would, and usually has absolutely nothing to do with any real costs.

Homeless shelters are free - at least every single walk in one I've ever known has been. He's identified you as a mug. Sorry to be so brutally honest but it's the area I work in (10 years) and honesty always takes last place when there's cash to be had.

If he has a bed in sheltered accomodation for homeless people then £25 would cover part or all of his service charge for a week (a top up for the rent which would be paid from housing benefit). But I'd bet you double or quits that if you gave him £25 it would not be spent on somewhere to stay.

I don't give to the homeless but I do support two charities monthly (a local one and shelter) because I want to help them.

I'm afraid he was probably pulling the wool over your eyes. I work in the sector and in my city, and most places, there is no charge for hostels, night shelters or the hotels/winter provision.
£25 seems to be the sum they use. It's quite funny of I'm walking through town with my work lanyard on. I do always stop and chat if I don't know them and explain the resources on offer, but those who know me either look embarrassed or wink!

In London they are free. They send outreach workers to rough sleepers asking them to come in for the night. I often see an outreach worker speaking to the guy who asks for money outside our Sainsbury's local every day. Last time I saw them I overheard the charity guy saying "but I just want you to come in and be warm and have a bed for the night". Some rough sleepers don't want it.

And thinking about it again, "for a bed for the night" is exactly the wording I've heard often. If they are near a train station it's often "for a train home" (or for a train to the hospital to visit my sick relative, accompanied by a heart-rending story, when you point out that their same relative was also urgently and unexpectedly taken to hospital the last time you saw them they can become quite hostile).

I did sometimes give to homeless people in the UK. I don't where I live now as they are all gang controlled, they are usually genuinely homeless/vulnerable in the UK but you do have to be aware that they probably are not spending it on shelter or transport.

That's because they know they are not allowed to drink or be under the influence of drugs at the shelters, which is to protect the workers and anybody else staying there. Unfortunately a lot of street homeless people are in the grip of addiction, and the need of the addicted substance is stronger than the drive for shelter.

Depends.

Quite often (with the homeless people I know and have known) it means that if they can get enough together for a couple of bags of whatever drug someone fancies, that they will he alowed to doss on someone's (usually a desperate addict who still has a home, sometimes a friend, sometimes not) floor/sofa for a night or two.

The homelessness person provides some drugs and gets shelter in exchange. Lots of hostels and shelters won't accept anyone under the influence or with animals, so it's a means to an end if they are not suitable for official accomodation.

When I worked in hospitality we used to have this thing called pub watch where the police would speak to us all about local people to be wary of and about the homelessness crisis.
We were told that 99% of the homeless people you'll see begging in high traffic areas aren't actually homeless. Many are in gangs and have to pool their money at the end of each day and are given an allowance from the gang leaders (either in the form of drugs or money). But, the majority have homes and will do whatever they can to get as much money to get a bigger reward such as sit out in the rain, have a dog etc. Means the real homeless people can't beg in those areas or are beaten/killed/mugged etc.

I really don't want to believe this but I've never seen anything to contradict this

That’s sad about the gangs and pooling their money if it’s true. It’s hard to believe that could happen in my small seaside town!

He is the only homeless person I have ever seen in my area apart from a big issue seller who I chat to regularly and she says she has a regular place in a hostel.

There is a homeless woman in my city centre who regularly asks for money for the train so she can go see a dying relative. I live in an area of lots of tourists coming off cruise ships, so I do wonder what she was saying/doing during the pandemic and no cruise ship tourists were around. Feel sorry for her really, she's clearly on drugs and quite vulnerable. Our city does have a good homelessness team who help out with hot food, beds if required etc.

I live in Central London and walking the dog in the morning there are 2 or 3 rough sleepers bundled up in doorways. At 9pm there are many many more who vanish overnight (ie they are not homeless)

It is hard to see who is genuinely in need. The new trend is the shoeless men on Oxford Street. There are also the random people with the same printed card about a child on the tube

I give to 2 food/homeless charities and volunteer for 1 but it is hard not to get caught out by professional beggars (who are probably trafficked but they are not getting the money). I used to see them on Saturday in Leeds drive up in a BMW to park (there is limited free parking) and then go out begging (again maybe exploited).