To not have realised

[Crochetnanigans]

I'm going to put myself out there.

I go to work. I come home. I don't really go out of an evening or wander to town.

I recently had a break away to a city for a few nights. I was shocked to see how many homeless people there were.

I came home and went to town for the first time for a couple of years. Again, aware of many homeless people.

I know AIBU to have not known the magnitude of the problem.

What can I do? How can I help in the most effective way? It's so so cold tonight and I can't stop thinking about those without a scrap of warmth. :(

You could find details of night shelters in your area and ask if there is anything they need. One local to us has said that they are opening this week due to the cold temperature and given a list of supplies they need.

Take hot drinks and blankets to them.

I know how you feel. There was a news report on lately talking about the rise of homeless people - I think it was London. I screenshot it to send it to my son and daughter.

What does that equate to! Staggering. And very shameful of our society.

That's the thing. Out council is opening up a community centre for the next few nights. No beds or bedding and security on the doors. We have been told we may not take down sleeping bags as they would be a fire risk?!

I'm going to spend the evening googling local services and seeing what i can do.

YANBU not to have noticed the magnitude - the numbers are at a record high. Up 73% in England in the last three years (for rough sleeping, not even more general homelessness). Depending on where you are there are likely charities that give out meals as well as the night shelters that you could either volunteer or donate too.

Also: campaigning against the government who are doing little to help these people (and a lot to make things worse, such as cutting funding to shelters...)

This helps you to find services (e.g. hostels, hot meals, showers etc) for homeless people in your area:

www.homeless.org.uk/homeless-england/search-near-me

You could use it to find local homelessness charities that you could help/donate to. I think you can also report people sleeping rough to your local Council's homelessness team in case it is someone they aren't aware of - I don't mean report as in get them in trouble but so that someone can help them. Although you could signpost them to services, sometimes rough sleepers won't access hostels/other support for a variety of reasons so need someone to do outreach work on the streets.

YANBU saw two in my home town recently. I had never ever seen this here before (just a bog standard town). Seem to be even more in the big cities.

If you want to do something practical you can make care packages to keep in your car and give to people instead of cash. Many homeless charities will tell you not to give people cash because it goes straight to drug dealers. Good things for care packages are:

Toothbrushes/toothpaste (basic ones are about 25p at the supermarket)
deodorant or baby wipes
Shampoo or shower gel travel size or sachets (incase they get a shower - sometimes they have to buy their own soap etc in shelters)
wrapped snacks like cereal bars/trail mix etc
A hot drink sachet
Gloves/hat/scarf (£ shops)
Maybe a clean t shirt (mens medium fits 99.9%of people- get them from the charity shop or ask on freegle or facebook groups if anyone has any promotional tshirts they're getting rid of)
A new pair of socks (thick sports sock type for warmth)
Hand warmer sachets (£shop sometimes has these)
Sweets or chocolate
A puzzle book and pen, or other easy thing to keep them occupied like a magazine

If you see any rucksacks in the charity shop for cheap it's a good idea to put all this in as a package. There are lots of charities who run "rucksack projects" in winter time for the homeless but it's usually around christmas and they might have finished by now, but there's nothing stopping you doing it yourself.

I cannot believe the explosion of homeless in London in the last 2 years or so. To help now, hot drinks and find out the nearest shelter details and if charities are doing 1-stop give aways; There was a charity giving out blankets at Charing Cross in Dec iirc.

This would be very generous but Blacks Outdoors sell cheap survival bags and blankets (I have some in my car for emergencies) if you're near a branch and know someone you think is in need of a light, portable, packable extra layer.

I've emigrated and when I was last in the UK three years ago, I thought the same OP.

It's shockingly bad and a lot of the rise in homelessness is due I think, to the benefits changes we've been seeing.

@squarecorners

Have you given these packs out? Are they well received? I'm worried about being seen as patronising but would far rather do this than give cash.

The increase here has been staggering, there are emergency beds for the extreme cold weather but, even better, our kind hearted council offer the homeless people a one way ticket to somewhere else.

I've given out similar. Just say to them "Hi, I was wondering if you could use this? It's just a little pack of some handy bits... clean socks, new toothbrush etc If you don't want it, hang on to it just in case or see if you know anyone else who could use the stuff in it".
9 times out of 10 if they don't want to accept it for themselves they will say oh I don't need it but my mate might and take it anyway. I've given away similar but I usually make up a couple of bags and donate them to my local rucksack project to distribute.

Forgot, clean underpants are also a good one to include- again men's medium is literally always the way to go.

Thank you for the suggestions. I'm going to start collecting bits and bobs and will ask DP to come with me and loiter at the emergency shelter.

The council say i cant drop off things but I can try and catch someone on their way in round the corner.

I don't know why people can't believe the rise in homelessness tbh. Every Charity and those working in Social Care predicted it when Universal Credit was at 'White paper' stage and then when the Bedroom tax came in.

We are having a housing crisis in Liverpool for the first time because of both. Three bedroom HA houses are being sold off because they can't let anyone under occupy them. So this is going to cause hardship for generations to cone (as did the last Tory Government in the 80's).

OP, there will be charities working in the area, get involved with them and help to get rid of this Government when the time comes.

I suggest giving to Crisis or Shelter. They will know exactly how to use your money most effectively. My wife regularly buys a coffee and a sandwich on her way to work for one young man which I know is appreciated. I think it's also important to say "hello" even if you haven't got any spare change - it must be horrible to be virtually invisible, as if you don't count as a human being. One other thing, many homeless people say that white meat or light cheese salad sandwiches are best as they find it hard to digest red meat after so many days of not eating properly.

Also give to food banks, that small but of help can stop someone from becoming homeless. Many Churches accept food donations.