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.

Ive often been one week away from homelessness.

I was on Disability benefit for a few years. Ive been disabled since I was 4 but have always tried to work, however for a few years I couldnt.

It was hell. Constant interviews and doctors appointments at my own expense even though its hardly like there was a cure for me.

They used to stop my money often, just decide that I hadnt filled in a form right or I was being chosen at random for investigation and while that was ongoing they would stop my money.

I remember crying down the phone hysterically to the benefits officer - I couldnt pay the rent and I had no food, this has been going on a month- she said, "I have the power to stop your money any time I want and there is nothing you can do about it. If you dont like it, get a job. "

I was evicted as a result but managed to get to my mothers and stay there for a while but Ive never forgotten the coldness of the person or the horrific knot in my stomach every day. wondering how I was going to feed my son or give him lunch for school.

Whoever said there but for the grace of god isnt wrong. It must be easier for people to dismiss homeless people as lesser or professional beggars rather than face the reality that this could be you some day, it only takes a few steps to plunge someone into poverty.

It's difficult sometimes to differentiate between people who genuinely need your help, and are homeless, and people just begging, who then go back to their homes. I have bought people, who are sat on streets, hot drinks, and they turn up their noses as they want money, not drink and food. Therefore you then question what the money is going to be used for. I don't want my money to fund someone's drug or alcohol addiction. And let's be honest here, despite people saying otherwise, a lot of these people do have addictions, and giving money to them to get their next fix is helping no-one.

Fire squirrel - completely agree with your post.

I've worked in housing for years and have worked with countless homeless people supporting them into flats of their own. If they have alcohol and drug addictions their tenancies invariably fail. Their friends and associates can become a problem to the neighbours. Rent doesn't get paid and the tenant becomes evicted.

Drug, alcohol and mental health issues need to be properly tackled, and also a way of preventing the person from mixing with old associates who are still using.

There is also a very high number of non UK residents living on the streets, which exacerbates the problem.

I agree with the need to invest in Mental Health Care, it's a big part of the problem.

Can I just add my deletion above was because of the GF, not for saying anything disparaging about homeless people.

I find empathy only exists as long as it has no impact. There is plenty of volunteers where I live but when a hostel was suggested in the old library empathy disappeared and self interest overtook. Wanting the government to do something as long as it is nowhere near them.

I blame Right to buy. Which this government voted to extend, against the advice of every housing charity and expert. In my area, the average minimum private rent is £1500! Of course it can be a lot more. It was once a non-descript, undesirable area to live in. Now the houses sell for a million+

Right-to-buy has become nothing less than a Darwinian competition over resources. I'll give you an example of what I mean. I live on an estate, my flat is fortunately council owned. Right-to-buy has meant that some of those (would have once been considered very basic flats, but now desirable) flats have passed hands several times to different buyers, So now there are many middle class people living in just over half of it. Some of them really don't want to live there and are just renting the flats out. Four doors down from me was a young family; a man and woman in early twenties with a young daughter. Their rent was 3x more than what I had to pay. One night, I woke up as I heard a lot of noise and banging. In the morning, I saw a pile of mess out in the front, with loads of children's toys just dumped on the stairs. I wondered what had happened? Why would they leave their daughter's toys? It saddened me. Asking around it turned out they had been evicted. The 'landlord' (who lives in kent with his wife and grand children) had put the rent up by £100 a month. Which they could not pay.

The council had to find them emergency shelter in a place miles away as that was all that was available. There was one room and there was no space for the toys.

On this same estate, there was a local tenants meeting a week later. I was the only council tenant attending. The agenda was how the facade of the flats could be improved by installing planters and what bulbs would be best and how to drum up support for a mass planting day. I am not suggesting the meeting should have been about anything else, just pointing out that the reason we are in this situation is because we really only care about if we are each getting ahead, and the government policies are targeted at that sentiment; individualism, and getting ahead, and you either win or lose. RTB should be stopped, but no one really has the guts to do it. I cannot remember a time when politicians did so little for the people under them. They seem to do a great deal for their big money, corporate donor friends though, and their interests. That's obvious. I can't wait for the next round of knighthoods and Peerages.

I've told this story before but it seems pertinent to this thread. Until recently, I worked in a mental health team for young people with psychosis. I visited a client just before Christmas last year and she told me she'd had had no money for a week. It turned out that her benefits had been stopped because she hadn't attended a fitness for work assessment. She hadn't opened the letter informing her of the appointment because she thought it was contaminated. I phoned the DWP who weren't very sympathetic but said that I could fax over a letter of extenuating circumstances and the'd look at it after Christmas. I gave her some info about Crisis at Christmas (although knew she almost certainly wouldn't go as she was too paranoid). I also gave her £10 of my own money, which was all I had on me, and a food bank voucher. Previously in these situations, we would advise people to get a crisis loan but the Tories abolished them. She couldn't ask family for money as they'd all disowned her and she couldn't ask friends because she didn't have any.
When I came back to work in January, I turned on my work phone to hear a voicemail from a Policeman letting me know that she'd been found hanged in a local park.
When they broke into her flat, there was no gas or electricity and no food in the flat. I still find it heartbreaking to think of her sitting in the cold and the dark and hungry,possibly hearing voices at what's supposed to be the happiest time of the year. Maybe getting her money stopped had nothing to do with why she took her life but it sure wouldn't have helped. She was 19 and, before she got ill, she wanted to be a midwife and still hoped to one day.
The people driving this agenda are cunts.

MsHooliesCardigan

That is tragic.

I hate fucking sanctions. As someone once pointed out, it's illegal to cut off food, leccy, heat to people in prison, but we do this to people for the crime of being unemployed.

"I have the power to stop your money any time I want and there is nothing you can do about it. If you dont like it, get a job. "
Unbelievable!! It takes a certain kind of person to say that to someone, but to say it to someone vulnerable through disabilities is beyond disgusting. If that is the kind of person who makes such decisions what hope is there. [

This is why I think care in the community is not suitable for people with psychosis. It isn't safe. These people are seriously ill and vulnerable.

I can't see things getting any better TBH.

We live in an increasingly greedy, selfish, self absorbed society - encouraged by the present government.

There are some amazing organisations and individuals trying to help, but it is an uphill battle.

That is heartbreaking Mshoolies

I work for a Foodbank, so we work with a lot of different agencies. Sanctions are the single biggeat cause of people coming to us, and some of the reasons they happen are ludicrous. We've had the chap with special needs who couldn't read not understanding the letter calling him in, then wondering why he had no money, the lady who was raped and was at the police station when she should have been signing on, children in hospital being accompanied by parents etc. It completely boggles my brain that they can just turn off all money. What the hell do they expect people to do?! It isn't as if benefits are enough to enable savings regularly. And then they wonder where the homeless come from.

That is so sad. I arrange support for a vulnerable adult and without a confident arsey middle class middle aged woman doing the form filling and talking she would be homeless probably. Her mental health issues mean that she struggles to engage with any outreach services and has no family or friends.
I can remember when most of the homeless were older addicts the numbers and relative youth of the homeless here has massively increased:(
It's a weird part of being human that we all think it's our innate superiority that helped us work and be successful. I do ok because I had ok parents and an ok education and support when difficult stuff happened. I have friends and cash and a buffer against life - life can be so difficult:(

This thread has made me so sad and angry, i cant believe its illegal to samction prisoners but not a single mum with children ...also how many women will stay in bad/abusive marriages because the alt is this? ...

housingrights.org.uk/news/crisis-report-says-prevention-homelessness-more-cost-effective
I've just read this and it makes so much sense. Why the hell doesn't it happen.

MrsHoolies That is one of the saddest and most disgraceful things I have ever ever read. How truly awful. Cold empty flat, no one to turn to, government doesn't care, hungry (what does not eating regular small meals for days do to the metabolism, blood sugar levels and the brain for someone suffering psychosis and/or depression?) How worthless did she feel? Her despair must have been huge. I'd phone in with that example on the next stupid radio phone in where some prat asserts sanctions are justified for the fickle.

heartskey
It doesn't happen because if you distract the masses by setting people against each other they are less likely to pay as much attention to the rich and privileged evading their taxes and lining their own pockets.

If you beat the poor and vulnerable down they don't have the strength to protest.

Unfortunately as much as you give to charities, some homeless people are still going without shelter.
In our town there are hostels for them to spend the night but they don't allow drugs or alcohol, a staple for most homeless people.
They also don't allow begging, so if you are seen doing this your accommodation is withdrawn.
I spoke to one of the workers there who said that many nationwide operate in the same way, it's not just them being mean.
I'm not saying the homeless shouldn't be helped of course, but these barriers need to be removed if we are really going to help.

I give them money and couldn't give a shiny shit if they spend it on drugs and alcohol.
If it keeps them going, why not? I do offer food and a hot drink as well if I can afford it.
I sometimes take a blanket with me when I go to Manchester, there are usually several around The Arndale, Victoria, Piccadilly etc.
Failing this even collecting cardboard and carrier bags can help to keep them warm.

I was talking to an amazing woman the other day. She was a child in care who left and now works with the most vulnerable 'unhouseable' homeless people. She said the first step to solving the issues are for people to stop working in a way that is transactional.

Everything is a hoop if you are disabled or an addict. Fill this form, meet with this person, agree to this thing. So we weed out the most vulnerable and needy while feeling justified and righteous. 'Professional beggars' and 'illegal immigrants ' really help with this.

Don't buy this crap. No one chooses to beg unless there's a reason. Addiction is a horrible thing and not someone's fault. There's high unemployment so choosing not to work really isn't a thing. Mental health needs are complicated and common.

The first step is empathy. Talk to people. Just hi or a nod. Say, "people who are homeless" rather than "homeless". Welcome projects in your area and engage with the staff. Tell your MP that housing and preventing homeless is important to you. Don't blame immigrants or laziness or drugs or feckless youth. Because believe me, all of those were around ten years ago. Support the NHS and treatment for addiction and MH issues. And understand that we could all have been in their shoes.

Divide & rule obviously works.
People keep voting for this

Both my partner and i work yet we are facing being homeless theres no were for us to rent and they want us out.We cant save for the letting fees/deposit either we barely make ends meet as it is.

The thought of being homeless with my partner and little girl is so hard .If we leave the area we lose our jobs and our daughters school.She is delayed and i worry so much what this would do, its taken the school so much time and effort of working with her for her to improve.

Yet there is simply no were for us to rent and no family to turn to .We work yet we seem just as poor as my parents were when they could not find work

MrsHoolies i also worked in mental health for many years i was an inpatient mental health nurse the lady you speak of just a few years ago would never have been in that situation if she was actively psychotic and suiciadal she would have been an in patient possibly detained in hospital however due to the severe cuts in mental health services there are just not enough beds; the trust i worked for closed down about 3/4 of their in patient services leaving CMHT ,S At cisis point and not being able to provide adequate care to outpatients [who just a few yrs prior would no doubt have been considered sectionable if they had tried to leave hospital ], i,m not sure who i blame but i do know that my old trust whilst closing down all these beds and blaming government cuts were in fact sitting on millions of pounds of their own savings.

Of course the government is selling off the NHS bit by bit, under the guise of tendering services to any qualified provider.
Services will be taken over by private companies whose first priority will be profit, leaving even less money for patient care.
We are already seeing what this has done for care of the elderly and nursing/care homes.