Most effective way(s) to support homeless people?

[Cocorico]

Would be really interested to hear your thoughts/guidance on this please.

I live in London at the moment, and I see a lot of homeless people every day.

I'm sure that there are also a lot of homeless people in other towns and cities across the U.K., and that the number of people in this situation will either increase or decrease over time depending on various factors e.g. the amount of social security available to people who are struggling financially.

Anyway... my question is (AIBU to ask) how can we help homeless people most effectively?

Is it best to:
A) give money to people directly

B) to help in a more indirect way (for example, by donating to charities involved in helping homeless people or people in financial difficulty, volunteering for these charities, donating to food banks, helping out at food banks or any other way)

C) to do a combination of both A and B.

Thanks very much.

I'm glad it is not just me that is made angry by this! Everyone just give money to the organisation, rather than having a wasteful smug off.

There are some dreadful comments here to/about Crumbs. I agree, no need for it at all!

If i bump into the guy i mentioned upthread i usually give him 2 to 3 pounds I have a Greggs voucher for a free mince pie and hot drink which i got in a magazine this week which is valid until Boxing Day and im keeping it in my bag in case i see him again. Hopefully if i dont see him that means hes got somewhere to stay.

There are some dreadful comments here to/about Crumbs.

Have I missed some posts? Who's Crumbs?

I hope I have never have to walk in their shoes cos I’m pretty sure I’d take anything going to cope, I say this from my comfy bed which I’m bloody grateful to have.

Me too @WingsofaDragonfly.

We were recommended by a homeless charity never to give them money as you don’t know what it will go on, suggestion was buy them food/drink/warm clothing etc. We do collection boxes at work for food/toiletries etc that the salvation army then pass on to homeless to use at their centres but also give to refuges/hostels etc

Ineedwine Ironic username for your choice of what to not give to homeless people.

Well ineedwine im teetotal and have never been drunk. So basically if i ever have the misfortune to become homeless ppl will assume exactly the opposite about me simply because id have nowhere to live.

Some of these charities are very patronizing towards the ppl they are trying to help.

www.greaterchange.co.uk/

I donated to this recently. I thought it was an interesting idea.

@Helena i agree, its very sad that thats the assumption. I like doing our collection boxes, its nice too know they’ll have a mix of items and that with the salvation army they have somewhere to go.

Don’t vote Tory as a starting point.

In 13 years of power Labour did nothing to address the issue of homelessness. They built virtually no new social housing.

House prices skyrocketed, buy to let booked and the benefits bill went crazy paying vast sums of money to private landlords in housing benefit . Tony Socialist Blair is now a multi millionaire and multiple home owner.

Sure the Tories are shite but dont forget alot of the problems now we're perpetuated by labour.

*boomed not booked

There were virtually no homeless in my city until the Tories got in, now there are lots and lots. Same with other towns and cities I've visited. It has everything to do with the present government. It was the Tories that sold off the social housing.

There is a documetary on TV currently (and available on catch up) called "Drugsland" that you might find interesting.

It is just awful. I also think it should be shown in every secondary school in the country to show kids how glamorous drugs are.

Obviously I don't think everyone sleeping rough on the streets are drug addicts but it does play a massive part.

Homelessness is such a heartbreaking situation and I never know what to do for the best

There are millions of people who are addicted to drugs and other substances who aren't homeless, because they can afford a home.

There are also lots of homeless people who aren't drug addicts, or at least weren't when they first became homeless.

I think it's wrong to put all the blame on the individual as it distract us from some of the real culprits - poor government, poor decision makers, a society which lacks empathy and a media which tells us that poor people are to blame for everything.

It was the Tories that sold off the social housing.

Labour didnt ban right to buy or build any more social housing in 13 years of power .

There are millions of people who are addicted to drugs and other substances who aren't homeless, because they can afford a home.

I am addicted to prescription drugs. I know a fair few people like me. Chronic pain conditions, morphine prescriptions..I cannot function without it now even when the pain is not present. I know others addicted to drugs, or alcoholics due to whatever personal circumstances. None of them ever set out to be addicts. Why would they?

If I was unlucky enough for DH to lose his job or something, I could end up on the streets and would be written off as just one of those junkies who doesn't want to help themselves. Its horrendous really.

It's horrendous. We need a kinder, more compassionate society and government.

In Scotland we have a charity called Social Bit. One of the things it does is run cafes in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen. They employ homeless people. People are also encouraged to leave money for a cup of coffee or a meal for a homeless person when they pay. They have lots of partner restaurants in the cities who also run this scheme. They are open an Xmas day serving Xmas dinner for the homeless for free. As well as this they have built 10 homes in Granton in Edinburgh for homeless people. They had Leonardo de Caprio pop in last year.
They ran a very successful sleep out in the park on Saturday night where thousands of people were sponsored to sleep out. Before the event they had already raised £2.9m! They announced that two housing associations in Scotland had agreed to built over 400 homes for the homeless! Which is just phenomenal.
These are the sorts of charities I support. They are my fav. charity and I give to them when ever I can.

I think that, in general, we really do need a much more coordinated and strategic approach to addressing homelessness in the U.K.

A few posters have already pointed out that there is little to no cooperation between different organisations working with homeless people in the same city. This must make it much harder to improve the living conditions of homeless people.

That's fantastic @Corcory. I hadn't heard of Social Bite before reading this thread. They sound brilliant.

Donate to homeless charities. I make blankets and donate them to Blankets for the homeless. They are on FB. They also accept things like knitted or crocheted hats, scarves and gloves and money donations

I have a family member who has been at various points at risk of homelessness. They have been sectioned, through rehab and have a chaotic life. Family have supported as much as possible. They got a lovely flat which family pitched in to furnish. Paid for by housing benefit which took a long time to sort after rehab and.....they want to leave the lovely flat and move to London where they know nobody and have no job etc. We can all see how this will pan out and after 15 years of trying to support and steer this person onto the right path, most of us family members are spent. I'm out of energy and have my own very Young kids. The family member is early 30's now, no qualifications or interest in getting any, just no desire for change.

I have given the money for bills which hasnt been spent on bills and it's not an issue of money but just an inability to manage ones life. They refuse professional support.

This person has just never settled to a job or course and drug issues, mental health issues etc don't help but they refuse professional support (but accept the benefits based on the mental health issues)

Just to say the issues are complex and not always about money. I have seen first hand. Family members have thrown money at this person, tried to advise about life choices etc til blue in the face, invited to family events etc but none of it is helping and I feel that they will end up on the streets.

Most people on the streets are undoubtedly victims of austerity and benefit sanctions but I feel with my family member, they would be living this aimless chaotic life whatever the government. I feel they are really at risk of homelessness but they are aggressive when I advise and I want to give up advising. It's exhausting.

i think the best way to help the homeless is to give them money if you can afford to. Youre not gonna house them or change their lives, but you can help them get through the day. Also warm clothes.

You may as well throw your money away than give it to one of the big national charities. Most of their money goes to the CEO and to overheads. They dont actually help anyone in real life

I will add that I volunteer for a homeless charity. I find the current rise in street homelessness heartbreaking but just see how some people don't engage in services that can prevent it if you see what I mean.