To be appalled at the growing number of homeless on the streets.

[heartskey]

There never used to be this many. I think it's scandalous that we have so many with nowhere to sleep. The government don't seem to give a toss. I can't imagine how awful it must be to have to sleep in a cold damp shop doorway on these cold nights. So many young men and increasingly young women having to sleep rough. Our government should be ashamed to just ignore what's going on. That's it really, just needed to vent.

[glintwithpersperation]

Life is expensive now. Our rental we had to put down £3400 deposit because we have children, get a guarantor due to bad credit and pay 6 months rent in advance (10,200) to secure the property. This was after my husband had a complete mental collapse due to historical awful stuff, lost his clients, we had to sell our house. It was a fucking awful time luckily our landlord was of the opinion that bad shit happens to good people. Obviously we also had to pay agent fees and credit checks.

[Tiredmumno1]

Ditto

[glintwithpersperation]

If I didn't have help from my parents we would have been fucked

[ilovesooty]

I expect microsnake is getting off on people making comments to her that she can report and have deleted. Don't give her the satisfaction.

[GiddyOnZackHunt]

It's not just benefit cuts though. Mental health services are falling apart. Councils are cutting services to the legal minimum to meet Government cuts. Housing is in short supply and expensive. Service personnel are made redundant after spending years in an institutional emvironment, possibly without a family unit to go back to. And as you push down on all those things people fall through the holes until they have nowhere left to go. Addiction might be a cause or a symptom.

[iremembericod]

Yes, there were many alcoholics I met too, drug addicts, even!

There was a reason for that. One really simple one that you'd have to be really thick not to understand. They needed it to cope and numb out their feelings.

Have you never heard of addictions being used as a coping mechanism?

Would it never occur to you to ask why someone is using alcohol or drugs as a slow form of suicide?

You know when people say "the most vulnerable members of our society". It's not just a 'thing to say', it is the truth. But I do get that people struggle with the word vulnerable when they see someone downing neat vodka. It seems obvious to me, but then I have actually known many many of these people and know what they are trying to deal with.

Kicking dogs when they are down is the phrase i believe.

[wasonthelist]

I often think "there but for the grace .." I've been lucky to be healthy and employed all my adult life so far - but things can change very fast. Anyone who thinks they are so hard working/clever/wonderful that it could never happen to them is delusional.

[HalfShellHero]

The sanctioning thing is horrendous, are they allowed to samction people with children to feed? (sorry if thats a stupid question) if so how is that legal and how many samction related child deaths haven't been reported i suspect a few..

[YetAnotherHelenMumsnet]

You won't be hearing from that poster again, sorry for the GFery-ness, folks.

[HalfShellHero]

This stuff is so upsetting...

[BubbleGumBubble]

I work with homeless people and it is a circle of crap.

They cannot get benefits without a bank account.
They cannot get a bank account without a home/utility bills.
They cannot get a home without claiming benefits.
So back to the start again.

Its shit and very few people choose homelessness.

[expatinscotland]

'The sanctioning thing is horrendous, are they allowed to samction people with children to feed? (sorry if thats a stupid question) if so how is that legal and how many samction related child deaths haven't been reported i suspect a few..'

Yes, they are.

[iremembericod]

Yes they do sanction people with children. However, they are more likely to be helped by other agencies.

Cost shifting from the DWP to other areas - and that cost more often is higher than the benefits that were paid originally. Go figure.

[HoridHenryrules]

Expat the answer is.............................Yes.

[GiddyOnZackHunt]

Bubble and you have to ask what unaddressed mental health problems do those few have? It's a basic instinct to seek shelter and security. Nobody well chooses the streets

[Tiredmumno1]

Thank goodness Helen.

I am just flabbergasted anyone would think like that.

Terrible

[HalfShellHero]

I cant believe thats legal, lots of mothers will be committing suicide with their children to avoid slow starvation..

[GiddyOnZackHunt]

Iremember that's been shown to be true. Saving £500 in one department can end up costing far more salvaging the mess.

[Tiredmumno1]

Awful isn't it HalfShell

[iremembericod]

Half
There have been many suicides, one was reported in the Commons today of an 18 year old, however far more endure horrific silent lives being called lazy cunts by people like that Snake thing on this thread. Reinforcing what they already think about themselves, continuing the cycle.

[comoneileen]

GiddyOnZackHunt our government has a very short-sighted view of social problems. And if the system favours a few privileged one, it does not look good on them if the streets are full of zombies

[Ploppymoodypants]

Well our local council has decided to start fining rough sleepers £100!!!!!

[BravoPanda]

The guy in Birmingham didn't freeze to death. He OD'd didn't he? Also our area has a one night on the streets policy. There are career homeless and beggars who refuse the services. What are you supposed to do for them? They won't accept the help. The issues are beyond the lack of housing. It's a lack of mental and social care. I was chatting to one the other week who earns around £100 a day begging, on a bad day. He uses it for his habit and for booze. Has zero interest in ever not being on the streets. You can't help people like that if they don't want to be helped.

[MycatsaPirate]

If anyone comes across someone who is a homeless veteran of the armed forces (army, navy or RAF) then you can do something.

Get their service number.

Contact help4homelessveterans.org.uk/ and give them the persons name, service number (which ever force they served in) and the location of the person.

They WILL get them off the street.

One of my friends is very active with this charity and they fund the deposit and sort out benefits and housing benefit for them. They will also put the person in touch with another charity who will sort out white goods and food to get them back on their feet.

You can give to Crisis or the Salvation Army, either time or money or goods.

You can badger your local MP to make more provision for the homeless in your area by opening up disused buildings, creating more shelters and especially to providing counselling services for those in greatest need.